Allen Johnson
Allen D “Shorty” Johnson passed away at Trinity Medical Center in Minot, N.D., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018.
“Shorty” was born on June 30, 1941, in Watford City to Wm Ivan and Florence Johnson. He was nicknamed “Shorty” because he weighed 20 pounds at age 4 months. He attended Rocky Glenn rural school grades 1-8. Allen enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Waukegan, Ill., in the spring of 1961, receiving a medical discharge after 6 weeks because of back problems.
He studied for and received his GED shortly after.
Shorty graduated from Wahpeton State School of Science in 1969 with a certificate in Auto Mechanics.
He moved to Albuquerque, N.M., for a short time as a parts-man in an auto shop. Returning to North Dakota and, in the following 10 years, he spent mostly farming on the family farm, except a couple of years working for True Oil.
In 1979, he went to work for the McKenzie County Road Department as a heavy equipment operator, working there for 15 years.
Shorty had a serious farm accident in 1986, when the door of a stack wagon fell on him, leaving him partially crippled. After a year of recovering, he went back to work for the county, staying there until falling and breaking his hip 8 years later.
He retired in 1994, due to his diabetes making him unable to work any longer.
He farmed until 2000 when he and his mother Florence moved into Watford City.
After a serious heart attack in 2013, Shorty entered the Bethel Home in Williston until his death.
He is survived by his brother, William Dale of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., sisters, Claudia Fisketjon, Bismarck, N.D., and Judy Okland, Bismarck, N.D., 5 nephews; and 8 grand-nieces and nephews; Also special friends, Corrine, Bobbi Rae, and Willis Sage.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wm Ivan and Florence Johnson; his maternal and paternal grandparents; 15 aunts and uncles; and his brother-in-laws, Earl Fisketjon, and Duane Okland.
Funeral services were held at Fulkerson’s Funeral Home in Watford City on Sept 6, 2018. Burial took place at the Willis Sage residence SW of Mandaree, N.D., as to Shorty’s request.