Frank T. Johnson

Frank T. Johnson, son of August and Ida Johnson who were immigrants from Sweden, was born in Rochester, Minnesota on March 5, 1889. He was the first of five children.

At about the age of 16, Frank moved with his parents to a farm near Milnor, North Dakota. Frank farmed with his father, and when he was in his mid-twenties, he bought a threshing rig and threshed for other farmers.

Florence Sours, daughter of John and Charity Sours, was born May 17, 1895, on a farm near Lisbon. She was the third child in a family of nine children, and stayed at home helping her parents farm, except for the harvests of 1915-1916, when she worked on the cook car of Frank's threshing rig with her sister.

Frank T. Johnson and Florence Sours were married January 11, 1917, in Breckenridge, Minnesota, and made their first home on a farm near Milner. In June, 1924, they moved to Valley City where Frank's first job was with the Northwest Nursery. In 1943, he worked for Swanson Beverage Company of Fargo. During the depression years, in the late 30's, Florence also worked to help support the family. She worked in the Rudolph Hotel, the sewing room, which was part of the relief program in effect at that time. In the early 1950's, she worked in several cafes; such as Checker Lunch, Drugan's Super Valu, Woody's Cafe and Bob's Curb Service. Bob's Curb Service was one of the first drive-in restaurants in Valley City and was owned and operated by her eldest son, Bob.

In 1959, Frank and Florence retired; sold their home in Valley City, and built a small house east of Valley City on their son, Eugene's land. Frank lived there until the time of his death on September 21 , 1969. Florence still resides there, being active with her family and church affiliation, Our Savior's Lutheran Church. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1967.

They were blessed with five children;

  1. Robert, born November 7, 1919,

  2. Viola (Mrs. Melvin Pack) born March 21, 1921,

  3. Luella (Mrs. LeRoy Hanson) born March 16, 1923,

  4. Eugene, born May 21, 1931, and

  5. Frank W. born January 11, 1933.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 112