Sharon Johnson

Minot

Sharon Ervin Johnson, longtime educator, died Thursday, February 20, 2025 in her home in Minot at the age of 89.

Sharon was born in Roanoke, Indiana on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1935. Her parents were Harold and Helen (Savieo) Ervin. She was the second of four children. The family moved to Albion, Michigan when Sharon was three. Her father was a linotype operator for newspapers. During World War II, her mother worked in a war plant on a lathe making parts for bombs. Harold also worked there toward the end of the war. In 1945, the family moved to Porterville, California where Sharon graduated from high school.

She married Arnold Johnson, Jr. on Sept 9, 1953 and they lived in Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Wyoming, Minot and Bismarck. In 1969, Sharon received her bachelor’s degree from Minot State University where Arnold was a chemistry professor. She began teaching history at Minot High School and later received her master’s degree in social science from Northern Arizona University. After many years of teaching, she became an assistant principal at Minot High. In 1980, after receiving a Bush Fellowship, Sharon completed her doctorate in educational administration at UND. She spent 6 years as Assistant Dean of Continuing Education at UND and completed her career as Assistant Superintendent of Bismarck Public Schools.

In their retirement years, Sharon and Arnold spent many hours at their summer home at Strawberry Lake which was a gathering place for their family. After Arnold’s death in 2001, Sharon explored many areas of the world, either biking, cruising or traveling with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed volunteering, gardening, reading, handicrafts, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. In July 2009, Sharon moved to Minot into a patio home that she had built in a new senior community, Edgewood Village. She was involved in several volunteer activities, including the public library, the UCC church and later Bread of Life Lutheran Church. She served on several boards including the YMCA, State AARP, Prairie Public Broadcasting, and the National Council of International Visitors, and was a longtime member of Bismarck and Minot Rotary Clubs. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and recently hosted a book club with friends.

Sharon is survived by her children, Kevin (Karla) Johnson, Tamara (Don) Hamm, and Heather (Shane) Johnson-Kjos; grandchildren, Kaela (Ryan) English, Cody Hamm, Kacie (Bret) Bauer, Cynthia Hamm, TJ and Paul Hamm; great-grandchildren, Zoe and Nora English; Ashby and Lillian Bauer; sister, Sara ( Bernal ) Kahrs; brother, Dr. Steve (Alice) Ervin, and numerous nieces and nephews and her feline companion, Lucy.

Sharon is reunited with her husband, Dr. Arnold Johnson, her parents, Helen and Harold Ervin, and brother Gordon Ervin.

Celebration of Sharon’s Life: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service or to share memories and condolences access her obituary at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Visitation: Monday, March 3, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to Minot State University Chemistry Department, Souris Valley Animal Shelter or Bread of Life Lutheran Church, all of Minot.

Published by The Minot Daily News, February 27, 2025.