JOHNSON, Catherine Helen

Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home Cando, North Dakota Catherine Helen Johnson, 90, of Cando, ND, died Monday, March 8, 2010, at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010, at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cando. Fr. Joseph D'Aco will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Cando, in the spring. Visitation will be held on Friday at Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home, Cando, from 4:00 until 8:00pm with Vigil Service and Rosary at 7:00pm. Visitation will also be from 10:00am to 11:00am at the church prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Pall-bearers for Catherine will be Kermit Johnson, Gary Johnson, Larry Bryl, Denny Windjue, Richard Windjue and Roger Windjue. Catherine Lauinger Johnson was born on September 21, 1919 to Philip and Eva (Kraft) Lauinger at Berwick, ND. She was raised on a farm near Cando and attended Metcalf School. Catherine was united in marriage to Arthur A. Johnson on November 12, 1940 in Cando. They farmed and raised their family at various Towner County locations until moving into Cando in 1970. Catherine was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Sacred Heart Altar Society, MAC Homemakers, Cando Senior Citizens, Towner County Medical Hospital Auxiliary and Towner County Living Center Auxiliary. Catherine had a nurturing heart. She was always sensitive to the needs of others; always thoughtful and considerate of someone else. She was caring, kind, and free-spirited. Catherine was a wonderful homemaker. She enjoyed gardening, baking, crocheting, playing card games, and collecting music boxes. As an excellent seamstress, she sewed many dresses for her daughters and also crocheted an afghan for every grandchild. As a self-taught musician, she enjoyed playing the harmonica and piano. The family recalls Catherine frequently humming & singing throughout the day happily tending to her home. In 2003, at the age of 84, Catherine taught herself to play the accordion and enjoyed entertaining with her accordion at Prairie View Estates, St. Francis, and Towner County Living Center in Cando, Maple Manor Care Center in Langdon, and Odd Fellows and Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake. Catherine was a wonderful mother and a loving wife. Her family will miss her and will forever hold fond memories of her. Survivors include her son, Francis (Barb) Johnson, Harlingen, TX, daughters, Barbara (Leo) Wipplinger, Kettle Falls, WA, and Linda (Jim) Villa, Black Canyon City, AZ; nine grandchildren, Natalie (Morris) Welsh of Langdon, ND, Brian (Kerri Minder) Johnson of Jamestown, ND, Bonnie (Robert) Middleton of Peoria, AZ, Jeff (Tracy) Wipplinger of Phoenix, AZ, Laurie (Mike) Green of Creswell, OR, Cathy Wipplinger of Springfield, OR, Kimberly (John) Ewing of Fairfield, CA, Elena (David) Kalberg of Peoria, AZ, and James Villa of Peoria, AZ; 25 great-grandchildren, Nicole, Kristen, and Ryan Welsh, Samantha and Katelyn Johnson, Jacey (Whitney Grasser), Jordan (Sara Fries), and Heather (Brandon Foxhoven) Middleton, Rachel and Brooke Wipplinger, Seth Madison, Briana, Taylor and Aaron Wapplinger, Emily, Thomas and Joseph Green, Keriana, Daniel and Joshua Ewing, Elijah, Adam, Jasmine & Lily Kalberg and Luke Villa; and three great-great-granddaughters, Alexis Middleton, Bailey Foxhoven and Isabella Middleton. Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Johnson, infant son (Philip), infant daughter (Janice), her parents (Philip and Eva Lauinger), three brothers (Joe, George and Anton), four sisters (Martena, Amelia, Eva and Cecilia) and an infant brother and infant sister.