Nancy Johnson

Nancy Marie Carlson was born on December 11, 1959, the daughter of Clarence LeRoy Carlson and Oryce (Burns) Carlson.

Nancy grew up in South Fargo. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and graduated from Fargo South High School in 1978. Afterwards, Nancy attended North Dakota State University and graduated college with a degree in criminal justice. She finished her professional career as facility manager at NavTech Fargo in 2018, where she retired after twenty-two years of loyal service.

On May 18, 1991, Nancy was united in marriage to the “farm boy across the road,” Gregg Johnson, at Richland Lutheran Church, where she was a member for most of her adult life. The joy of her life was their unexpected blessing, daughter Hanna Johnson, who was born in July of 2002. Nancy took great pride in Hanna’s many accomplishments, and she attended Hanna’s college graduation from Harvard in the Spring of 2024.

Nancy also loved spending time at the lake with her family and their many dogs. In 2013, Nancy and Gregg built her dream home of “log and stone” where she lived until her passing on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in her husband’s arms.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Gregg; daughter, Hanna (fiancé Jared Zimmerman), sisters, Sue Hilzendager, Linda Carlson, Sandy McGregor, and other sister, Cheryl Olson; father-in-law, Lester Johnson; brother-in-law, Scott (Carrie) Johnson; sisters-in-law, Debbie (Scot) Hintermeyer, Linda (Robert) Gylland, Wendy (André) Malgouyres; uncle Vern (Gayle) Burns; aunt AnnMarie (Dale) Current; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and her loyal and spoiled dogs, Colby, Ryder, and Urban.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oryce and Leroy Carlson; brother, David Carlson; brothers-in-law, Butch Hilzendager and Steve McGregor; mother-in-law, Shirley Johnson; uncle, Richard (Charlotte) Burns, and other cherished relatives and friends.

Nancy will be remembered for her vibrant and lively spirit, love of all four-legged friends, and her bright smile and contagious laughter that filled every room she was in.

Visitation will be on Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm with a prayer service to follow at Richland Lutheran Church in Walcott, ND. The funeral service will be on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior at Richland Lutheran Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin Munson in Wahpeton, ND.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to 4 Luv of Dog Rescue in memory of Nancy Johnson, who was heavily involved in the cause for many years of her life.