James Cecil Johnson

James “Jim” Cecil Johnson, Sr., age 86, entered into rest on Friday, September 29, 2023. He was born on October 29, 1936, in Brookings, South Dakota to Ole Johnson and Helen (Olson). Jim was one of five children.

In 1953, on his 17th birthday he joined the United States Marine Corps. When asked why he chose the Marines over any other branch he stated, “There’s no doubt, the Marine Corps is the finest branch of service in the World.” Over the course of his 20 years of active duty service, he completed two tours of Vietnam and retired as a Master Sergeant.

After retiring from the USMC, he worked for the North Dakota Department of Corrections establishing Rough Rider Industries, a vocational rehabilitation program, and later for the California Department of Corrections establishing similar programs there before retiring.

In 1955, Jim married Raome Kostenko, and together raised three children, Susan (Salgueiro), Patty, and James.

Jim enjoyed many activities when he was not working and more so once he retired. He was a skilled woodworker and built several pieces of furniture that his family continues to enjoy using today. He was a talented photographer, showing and selling his work at local events in the North Dakota area. He was an avid fisherman; you could find him in Canada most summers out on the lake catching his walleye limit.

Jim was preceded in death by his father Ole Johnson, mother Helen Thoreen (Johnson/Olson), and brother Dwayne Johnson.

Jim is survived by his spouse, Raome Johnson, brother Ordale Johnson, sister Joanne Kotila, sister Janice Schwartz, son Jim Johnson, Jr., daughter Susan and son-in-law Bill Salgueiro, daughter Patty Johnson, grandchildren Jeremiah Johnson and wife Melissa, Jessica Cretcher and husband Chad, Holly Salgueiro and wife Elizabeth, James Johnson and wife Elizabeth, and great grandson Olafur “Ole” Cecil Johnson.