Arnold Johnson

Arnold Frederick Johnson, age 88, resident of Larimore, ND, passed away on September 16, 2025 at the Larimore Good Samaritan Center in Larimore.  Arnold was born to Fred and Ellen Johnson of Kempton, ND on September 7, 1937.  He attended Logan Center Consolidated school in rural Grand Forks County until his senior year.  He then attended Larimore High School and graduated in 1955.

Besides helping on the farm during his school years, he was very active in 4-H projects and played basketball at Logan Center.

In 1959, he received his BS in Electrical Engineering from University of North Dakota and a MSEE degree from Iowa State University in 1962.  He did his graduate work in business at the University of Minnesota.

Arnold married Rita Lerud, (Grand Forks, ND), on September 6, 1959 at United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, ND.

They adopted two children, a son, Devin, and a daughter, Jody, whom they loved and raised as their own.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Arnold worked in the avionics field for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  In 1963, he and Rita moved to Bloomington, MN, where he worked for EMR in the computer field and later for Dicomed Corp., with computer imagery.  In 1974, Arnold and Rita moved to his family farm, where he farmed and taught in UND’s MBA program at the Grand Forks Air Force Base for the next 13 years.  While at the base, he was also an adjunct faculty member for the University of Central Michigan, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Park College.

In 1988, he started teaching in the Electrical Engineering Department at The University of North Dakota.  While there, he was instrumental in developing their distance education program in engineering.  He enjoyed teaching and loved interacting with students and helping with their engineering projects.  Before retiring in 2006, he served as the chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department for 5 years.  After retiring, he continued to teach in the Electrical Engineering Department on a part-time basis.  He also worked with Modern Tech, a company which he helped found in 1993.  Since 2012, he has been working with Modern Tech, installing hearing loops in many local churches and in other public venues.

Arnold is survived by his wife, Rita of Larimore, ND; a son, Devin(Gail) of Hillsboro, ND; and a daughter, Jody(Randy) Wiegandt of Larimore, ND; 3 grandchildren: Tarryn(Eric) Omdahl of Warren, MN; Kayley(Adam) Thomas of Alexandria, LA; and Jeremy (Kiana) Wiegandt of Emerado, ND; 6 great-grandchildren: Gage and Bryson Omdahl, Addy and Piper Thomas, and Kayson and Kohen Wiegandt; and a brother Gordy (Carol) Johnson of Tyler, Tx.

Arnold was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ellen; a brother-in-law, Donald Lerud, and a sister-in-law, Helen Lerud.

Visitation:  Friday, September 19, 5-7pm, with a prayer service at 7, at the Bakke Funeral Home, Larimore.

Funeral:  Saturday, September 20 at 2:00pm at Living Faith Free Lutheran Church in Larimore.

Burial:  Bellevue Cemetery, Larimore