Arthur K. Johnson was born near Hannaford on September 19, 1925, one of five children born to Carl O. and Emma Johnson. He grew up on the family farm and attended a rural school for elementary training and received his secondary schooling at Hannaford High School. After graduation he served approximately two years in the military, the latter part of which was in Japan in the occupation forces. Upon returning he enrolled at Concordia College and graduated with a teaching degree in 1951. He then began a career in education which started as a high school classroom teacher. He pursued an advanced degree in school administration and graduated from UND in 1957. Of his entire 37 year career, he worked as a school superintendent for 32 of those years. Schools served during this career were Sawyer, Hannaford, Turtle Lake, Carrington and Underwood, all in North Dakota.
In the beginning years of his teaching career (1960) he married Florence Loge of Cooperstown. She was the daughter of John and Susanna Loge. She was an elementary teacher, having taught in rural schools and in the public schools at Cooperstown. Shortly after marriage, Florence gave up her teaching career to help raise the family of two children. The children were Nancy Susanne and Gary Karl. They were born in 1963 and 1965, respectively. Today Nancy is married to Kerry Beckman of Washburn, North Dakota, and they live in Denver, Colorado. Kerry is employed in earth-moving type construction. They have two children, Kayla Jean and Kadie Jo. Gary has just finished his college degree at Minot State University and will be accepting a position this fall to teach secondary mathematics, physical education and perhaps do some coaching.
Arthur and Florence retired from school work in 1987, and now reside near Cooperstown on the farm where Florence grew up. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, despite retirement, are trying to remain very active in church, community and civic activities. They also enjoy watching various sporting activities and do participate in golf and bowling. They are thoroughly enjoying life in rural Griggs County.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 167