Julius "Tony" R. Johnson

Julius R. “Tony” Johnson of Ellendale (formally of Beulah and Hazen), died Friday, June 12, 2026 just 3 days shy of his 83rd birthday.  A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah, ND.  Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, June 22, 2026 at the ND Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND.

Born on June 15, 1943 in Crosby MN to Julius M and Viola M (Humphry) Johnson, Tony joined older siblings Gene, Robert “Buster”, and Judy on the family homestead on Rabbit Lake just outside of Deerwood, MN on the Cuyuna Range.

Tony enjoyed a childhood of adventures on the lake, ranging from early morning duck hunting before school, to spearing ever annoying “dogfish” in the bay!  Tony was an avid outdoorsman and thoroughly enjoyed hunting and fishing with his mother, father, brothers and relatives.

After graduating Crosby/Ironton High School, Tony continued his education at Staples Area Vocational School becoming a career long tool and die machinist.  Tony could literally make anything out of a raw chunk of metal! 

In the spring of March 1964, Tony enlisted and proudly served his country in the US Navy.  Stationed aboard the USS Constellation (CVA-64) where he received the National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon and Vietnam Campaign with device.  Tony was Honorably discharged the 23rd of January 1968.  Tony was very proud to be a US Navy Veteran and more importantly a Vietnam Navy Veteran, wearing his various hats until the day he left this earth. 

During his enlistment, Tony married Carolyn M (Brill) Johnson of Staples MN on October 10, 1964.  To this union, a daughter, Julie M (1968) and son, Shane M Johnson (1970) were born.  Upon completion of his service, Tony and Carolyn relocated their family to Silver Bay, MN where Tony was employed as a machinist with Reserve Mining Co.  After the steel industry collapsed in the early 80’s, Tony and Carolyn with family in tow, headed west to the prairies of North Dakota in the summer of 1983.  Tony started work at the newly completed Dakota Gasification Company, and continued his career as a machinist until retirement.

As Carolyn’s health deteriorated, Tony retired from DGC and turned his meticulous perfection of metals towards wood.  Tony, with his attention to detail only a machinist can appreciate, created many pieces of decorative furniture and cabinets.  Tony custom built cribs, bassinettes and highchairs for each of his children’s grandchildren; gun cabinets, jewelry boxes, armoires, and many other unique items.  He even built his own boat!  A 17’ custom red cedar strip canoe, which has floated on many rivers and lakes of ND and even the Boundary Waters in MN (thanks to nephew Jed).

After Carolyn’s passing in 2011, Tony sold the family home in Beulah and relocated to Hazen where he lived out the rest of his days tinkering and puttering and making lifelong friends, until being diagnosed with early onset dementia in the fall of 2020.   As the disease progressed, memories faded and the body fell ill over the next 6 years, Julius R. “Tony” Johnson, finally entered eternal rest in the early morning hours of June 12, 2026;  his mind can finally be at peace. 

He is survived by his daughter Julie Dschaak of Richardton and son, Shane (Donita) Johnson, grandchildren Katelyn (Robert) Baker and Lance Dschaak, Tayler, Reed (Ashley) and Kody Johnson.  Along with 2 step grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren.  Tony is also survived by one brother-in-law James “Jim” Dotterer, and many nephews and nieces.

Preceding him in death was his wife of 47 years, Carolyn; parents Julius and Viola Johnson, brothers’/sisters in law Gene (Esther) and Robert (Diana) Peterson, sister Judy Dotterer, niece, Suzie (Peterson) Swanger and nephew Jan Peterson along many aunts and uncles and special friend Jeannie Beddow.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to the memory care unit staff at the Ellendale Nursing Home, the amount of patience and love you gave our father was unprecedented.  His roommate and friend Robert Looyenga will be his honorary pall bearer.

Fair winds and following seas…

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