Robert “Bob” Johnson
Jan. 2, 1950-Nov. 10, 2021
Robert Lowell “Bob”
Johnson, the son of Lloyd
and Margaret (Berg) John-
son was born on January
2, 1950, in Rolette, North
Dakota. He died at the
age of 71 years surround-
ed by his family on
Wednesday, November
10, 2021, at the Heart of
America Medical Center
in Rugby, North Dakota.
Bob was raised on the
family farm near Overly
and attended grade school
in Overly and junior high
and high school in Willow
City, where he graduated
in 1968. He continued his
education at North Dakota
State College of Science in
Wahpeton, earning a certi-
ficate in Auto Body Repair
in 1969. In 1969, he re-
turned to Rugby and
worked for his brother at
Pierce Implement Com-
pany and enlisted in the
U.S. Army National
Guard. He completed his
basic training at Ft. Ord in
California and was honor-
ably discharged in 1973.
After meeting the love of
his life, JoAnn Hilzen-
dager, the couple were
married in 1972 and
blessed with four chil-
dren: Travis, Trent,
Tanner and Tasha. Bob
took over his father’s farm
in 1973. Farming was his
absolute pride and joy. He
farmed alongside his son,
Trent for the past 27
years.
Bob was a member of
the Masons and Shriners
and served as President of
the Rugby Amateur Hock-
ey Association from
1987-1989 and helped see
to it that Rugby would
have an indoor hockey
arena. He was a member
of the Rugby Eagle’s Club
and the American Legion.
Bob enjoyed having break-
fast with his coffee bud-
dies every morning! He
loved storytelling and if
he teased you, he loved
you! He was a kind, gentle
man that had an inviting,
warm demeanor about
him. He was a dear friend
to many and a man who
loved the land, his
church, and his family of
whom he was so proud.
He will be dearly missed
by those who were
privileged to have known
him.
Bob is survived by his
wife of nearly 50 years,
JoAnn of Rugby; his chil-
dren, Travis (Nikki) of
Grand Forks, Trent and
Mindy of Rugby, Tanner
(Carlie) of Rugby and Ta-
sha (Mitch) Kotrba of
Warren, Minnesota; his
grandchildren, Jacob,
Isaac (Aubrey), Ben and
Will Johnson, Emily (Eric)
Knutson, Sara Stier
(Wyatt) and Anni Stier,
Jenner, Livvy and Thea
Johnson and Kyden and
Kilah Jo Kotrba; brother,
Ed (Dana) Johnson of
Towner; sister, Marilyn
Polk of Bismarck; sister-
in-law, Muriel Johnson of
Rugby; in-laws, Gary (Es-
ter) Hilzendager, Shirley
(Dick) Blomster and
Renae (Dean) Lenertz;
many nieces, nephews,
other relatives and
friends. He was preceded
in death by his brothers,
Donald and LeRoy; sis-
ters, Shirley Walker and
Carol Johnson; brothers-
in-law, Warren Walker
and Dan Polk; Parents-
in-laws, Ed and Helen Hil-
zendager and his parents.
Memorials in Bob’s
memory are preferred to
the HAMC Build 2024 or
the First Lutheran
Church.
Funeral services were
held at 11:00 a.m. Mon-
day, November 15, 2021,
at First Lutheran Church
in Rugby and burial with
full military honors in the
Persilla Watts Cemetery in
Rugby. Pastor Sharon
Baker, officiating.
Military Honors Ac-
corded by: The Clarence
Larson American Legion
Post #23 Honor and Color
Guard and The North
Dakota Military Funeral
Honors Detail
Organist: LaVonne Ivey
Vocalists: Josh Mattson,
Allison Leer, & Emily
Knutson & Allison Leer
Guitarist: Jenner John-
son
Casket Bearers: Scott
Johnson, Cory Johnson,
Kipp Johnson, Dave Roth-
schiller, Cory Belisle and
Doug Schneider
Honorary bearers:
Bob’s 12 grandchildren
and Eric Knutson, Wyatt
Hanson, and Aubrey Rol-
land
Arrangements with the
Anderson Funeral Home
of Rugby. Online registry:
www.funeralsby
anderson.com