As every good cowboy does, Lowell E. Johnson rode off into the sunset to be with Jesus, unexpectedly and much too soon, on February 27, 2020. Lowell was the second son born to Francis and Florence Johnson on November 23, 1958 in Minot, ND. He was raised on the farm near Plaza and educated in Plaza Public School.

Lowell married Ellen Bruhn on August 16, 1985 in Minot, ND. They lived in Tagus, ND until 1992, when they moved to the farm north of Palermo, ND. When Lowell married Ellen, he took on the instant role of “dad”, adopting her girls, Maidie and Katie. A year later, Lowell and Ellen welcomed a son, Lowell Jr. We were all the apple of his eye.

Lowell was a jack-of-all-trades. He could fix almost anything, and if he couldn’t fix something, it really could not be fixed. Lowell had a knack for tinkering with engines of all kinds. If he wasn’t repairing his own vehicles, he was working on someone else’s. He used to laugh when he’d slam the hood shut, getting ready for a test drive, only to find the girls already in the back seat and Jr. running out of the house holding his pants up with one hand and a handful of bacon in the other. When Lowell’s girls went off to college, he made many road trips to fix their cars, either on the side of the road or wherever they were living at the time. Once he fixed Maidie’s car by purchasing a few small washers and a bolt at the hardware store for ten cents when the parts weren’t readily available. To describe Lowell as handy really is an understatement.

Lowell enjoyed teaching his children and sharing his handy talents with them. One time he built a rope machine using a block of wood, a hand drill, and some hooks. He taught his children to make ropes out of twine. He then braided the ends to make lariats and these ropes were the best on the farm. Besides teaching his kids skills, he taught them many life lessons and turned any event into an opportunity to learn. He believed in hard work and telling it like it is. He also told us repeatedly, “Why do it if you aren’t going to do it right?”

Lowell loved raising his animals. He used to go out and “play” a coronet when he called the cows up for feed. Ellen would roll her eyes every time the coronet came out and we’d plug our ears at the noise. In his younger years Lowell broke his own horses and still enjoyed his horses until his last day on earth. His horses and his rescue cat, Spiney, miss him just as much as we do.

Most of all, Lowell enjoyed being a grandpa. He cherished his five grandsons and granddaughter. He loved being invited to see their school programs or Donuts for Dads events. There wasn’t a crying baby Lowell couldn’t lull to sleep within minutes. Children were drawn to Lowell and he couldn’t resist getting down on the floor to play with them.

Anyone who knew Lowell also knew he was a talker. He loved visiting with everyone (and we mean everyone). He didn’t know strangers, just people he hadn’t had a conversation with, yet. He could always find some common ground to make a connection with people. Lowell had a quick wit and sense of humor about him and you had to pay attention, so he didn’t get one over on you. He loved to tease, but all in good humor.

Since Lowell loved telling stories, his family would love it if family and friends would bring stories to share about Lowell when we celebrate his life at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 6, 2020 at Faith Lutheran Church in Palermo, ND.

Lowell is survived by his wife, Ellen; son, Lowell Jr. (Palermo); daughters, Maidie (Roger) Enget (Powers Lake); Katie Janz (Minot); son-in-law, Neil Janz (Velva); Mother, Florence (Plaza); brothers: LaVerne (Palermo); Greg (Voltaire); Gaylin (Beldon); & Gerard (Plaza); sisters: Angelia (Richard) Faidley (Pennsylvania), Marcella (Williston); grandchildren: Aaron Enget & special friend Jaimee (Hazen); Cole Janz & Austin Janz, Velva; Levi, Chloe, & Coy Enget (Powers Lake), Mother-in-law, Martha Bruhn (Minot); Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, & uncles.

Lowell was preceded in death by his dad, Francis; brother, Wade; grandson, Luke; and grandparents, aunts, & uncles.