Dallas L. (Johnson) Sturlaugson

Dallas L. (Johnson) Sturlaugson, 89, of Devils Lake, North Dakota, passed away Tuesday morning, Oct. 31, 2017 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, North Dakota, with loving family at her side.

Dallas Lillian was born on Feb. 6, 1928 on the family farm, rural Maddock, North Dakota, to Oscar and Edith (Nelson) Hanson. She was reared and educated in the Maddock/Minnewaukan area and graduated from Minnewaukan Public School.

Dallas married Donald Johnson and they established their home in Minnewaukan and began their family. She worked at the Benson County Courthouse along with being a wife and mother. Donald died on March 8, 1956. As a young widow and mother of two, Dallas’s strong faith and determination to provide for her family led her to continue her education. She moved her family to Fargo and in three years, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in home economics from NDSU on May 21, 1961. Later that day, she was united in marriage to Vernon Sturlaugson, a young widower with three children, at the Peace Lutheran Church in Fargo.

This new blended beautiful family, returned to the Minnewaukan area and Dallas taught at the Benson County Agriculture School for a few years and then at the Minnewaukan Public School until she retired. In 1979, they moved to Larimore and Dallas worked as a secretary at the Good Samaritan Center in Larimore for many years. After sharing nearly 50 years of love and marriage, Vernon died on March 15, 2011. Dallas continued to make Larimore her home until 2014 when she moved to Heartland Care in Devils Lake.

First and foremost, Dallas was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother. She was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Minnewaukan and later Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Larimore. She also enjoyed membership in the Eastern Star.

She was a talented seamstress and loved needle work crafts, including quilting, cross stitching and embroidery. She was an avid reader, enjoyed playing a round of golf with Vernon and looked forward to a game of cards, cup of coffee and good conversation with family and friends. She and Vernon enjoyed 15 winters in Florida in their retirement. Time spent with her dear family and friends was the most precious to Dallas.

She is survived by her children Doug (Linda) Johnson, Whitefish, Pam Anderson, Fargo, North Dakota, David (Karen) Johnson, Minnewaukan, Paul (Dorothy) Sturlaugson, Glendive, and Jo (Keith) Streyle, Leeds, North Dakota; 15 grandchildren Scott (Dawn) Johnson, Stephanie (Patrick) Gulick, Justin (Anna) Anderson, Meredith (Eric) Wold, Murphy Anderson, Derek (Amanda) Johnson, Kylie (Colt) Moen, Tanner Linstad, Megan (Danny) Coryell, Ryan Sturlaugson, Andrew Sturlaugson, Roscoe (Kristi) Streyle, Jay (Stefanie) Streyle, Patrick (Melissa) Streyle and Whitney (Cody) Biby; 27 great-grandchildren and one more on the way; many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Donald and Vernon; son-in-law Wayne Anderson; brothers Glen, Donald, Oscar Jr. and Dale Hanson; sisters Dorene Schwan and Linda Stensby.

Funeral Services for Dallas were Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Free Lutheran Church, Minnewaukan with Reverend Lu Mathiason officiating. Visitation was held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, Nov. 3 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. with a time of prayer and sharing at 6 p.m. Visitation was at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial was in the Bellevue Cemetery, Larimore, North Dakota, on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 3:30 p.m.