Johnnie attended school at Wallace Township #2 in rural Kidder County, ND, near the family farm. His teenage years were spent helping on the family farm and as a young man he did construction work. After the death of his father in 1964, he took over the family farm.

On October 8, 1976, Johnnie married Gladys Johnson at Steele, ND. Together they raised her son Reinhardt, and her granddaughter Debbie. The continued farming until they retired and moved to Steele, ND.

Johnnie and Gladys enjoyed traveling, camping, playing cards and visiting family. Gladys Weippert died in 2001. Johnnie continued to live in Steele until moving to Rock of Ages nursing home in Jamestown, ND, in 2006, and later to Bridges Care Community in Ada, MN, in 2007, where he lived until his death.

Jonathan followed the family faith in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church until his death.

He is survived by two step-sons, Reinhardt (Pam) Johnson, Jamestown, ND, Louis (Barb) Sonsteng of Kansas; a step-daughter Dorothy of Bismarck, ND; one step-granddaughter Debbie (Lee) Holcomb, Roseau, MN; four brothers: Eugene (Lorraine), Steele, ND, Wilbert (Elenora), Hendrum, MN, Clarence (Ivajean), Ada, MN, and Edward (Florence), Columbus, ND; three sisters, Darlean Pierce, Fargo, ND, Judith (Elroy) Aipperspach, Langdon, ND, Linda King, Grand Forks, ND, and several nieces and nephews.

Johnnie was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, one brother Emil, and three sisters, Bertha Weippert, Ellen Thorsvig, and Eldena Dunn.

Funeral Service: Bowdon Country Seventh-Day Adventist Church, rural Bowdon, ND

Date and Time: Friday, May 8, 2009 10:00AM

Interment: Tuttle Cemetery, Tuttle, ND at 1:15PM Friday