from "​Double Cousins" by Ralph Hammersborg,  A Norwegian Family Chronicle, produced in 1996

Ralph Hammersborg had asked his Mother’s cousins to write about their lives.  The cousin's stories are taken from "Double Cousins by Ralph Hammersborg, A Norwegian Family Chronicle, produced in 1996.”   Birth dates of living relatives have been removed from the original text.

1922 - Hillard Alvin Johnson  
born August 31, 1922, died at age 88 on November 9, 2010 .
Son of Helmer and Alfrida Johnson

Written in 1996

I was born August 31st, 1922 on a farm Southwest of Binford, North Dakota to Helmer and Alfrida (Susag) Johnson. I am the sixth child born to this family.  We moved shortly after I was born so I grew up on a farm straight south of Binford, North Dakota, where I attended grade school.  After a few sessions of off again and on again attendance I graduated from Binford High School in the spring of 1942.

 During part of this hiatus from high school, I was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) from October 1939 through March of 1940 and spent this time in a camp at Alcester, South Dakota.  During the last part of my high school career I worked for various farmers in the Binford area.

 In February 1945 I was drafted into the Army and after basic training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson at Little Rock, Arkansas I was sent overseas to the Philippine Islands then to Okinawa and finally to Korea as a member of the occupation forces.  I was discharged from the army in December 1946. I returned to Binford, North Dakota.

 After several years working for Binford area farmers, I enrolled at Gale Institute, a telegraphers school, in Minneapolis, Minnesota in February 1951.  After 5 months I graduated from the school and came back to North Dakota and began my career with the Northern Pacific Railroad (which later became Burlington Northern) at Verona, North Dakota on August 13, 1951.

 On October 23, 1951 Joyce Erlinson and I were married in Binford, North Dakota and to this union four children were born.

 Jeffrey (Jeff) married Ruth Ann Paxton on July 12, 1980 and they have three children: Erin, Adam, and Brett. They live in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

 Richard (Rich) married Julie Otto on September 12, 1981.  They have two children: Andrea and Christopher.  They live in Arvada, Colorado.

 Valerie (Val) married William “Butch” Buchanan, Jr. on May 1, 1982.  They have two children: Brian and Benjamin.  They live in Fargo North Dakota

 Robert (Rob) lives in Fargo, North Dakota.  He and Traci Swanson plan to be married on October 21, 1995.  They live in Fargo, North Dakota.

 We lived in various towns in North Dakota and Minnesota while working for the railroad.  After the three oldest kids had gone their own separate ways, Joyce, Rob and I moved to Valley City, North Dakota from Granite Falls, Minnesota in January of 1980.  I retired from the railroad in the spring of 1983.

 After retiring from the railroad I drove a school bus at Valley City from 1985 until 1989.  After leaving that job I have just been retired.

Click on a link below to continue with the JOHNSON FAMILY photos and stories.

Same links as the Home page

Johnson Family (home)  - Kinstories (home)  -  Susag Family  -  Flatau Family  -  Beckman Family
Granquist Family  -  Anderson Family  -  Stout Family  -  Walker Family  -  Peterson Family  -  Morris Family  - Cauble Family