Orpha Johnson, age 92 of Turtle Lake, ND died Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Turtle Lake.

Burial will take place at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Sept. 29th in the Turtle Lake Cemetery. The funeral service will follow at 10:30 Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Turtle Lake with Pastor Betty Stedman officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Orpha was born March 26, 1920 in Windom, MN to Oswald & Christine (Nevermoe) Austad. She graduated from South High School in Minneapolis, MN in 1938. She continued her education at the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1942. She worked at the Swedish Hospital as an obstetrics nurse for a number of years. Orpha married Eldred Johnson on April 3, 1948 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They lived in Mohall, ND where Eldred served as Lutheran Pastor of several local parishes. In 1952, they moved to Minocqua, WI where Eldred served as Pastor of a church and Orpha worked at the local hospital. In 1958, they moved to Westhope, ND. Orpha worked at the nursing home in Westhope until they moved to Turtle Lake, ND in 1973. Orpha worked as an obstetrics nurse at the Community Memorial Hospital in Turtle Lake for 10 years. Eldred, her husband of 59 years, passed away in March 2007. Orpha continued to make her home in Turtle Lake until her passing.

She is survived by her loving children, Kris (Barry) Neese of Lexington, KY, Dawn (Mike) Brewer of Fargo, & Joel (Vikki) Johnson of Turtle Lake; three grandchildren, four special (adopted) grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, one great grandchild, one sister-in-law, one brother-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

Orpha was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters (Agnes & Anna), & two brothers (Elgard & Obert).

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Friends of Madagascar Missions
(PO Box 46381, Eden Prairie, MN 55344)