Roberta Johnson

Roberta Johnson was born June 20, 1949 in Aberdeen, SD to Robert L. and Dolores (Borth) Johnson. Roberta, an only child was raised in Ellendale, ND graduating from Ellendale High School in 1967. She attended UND-EB in Ellendale, Northern State College in Aberdeen and North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. In 1974 she moved to St. Paul, MN and started working at the University of Minnesota. In the following 17 years she worked in the Dairy Extension Department, Department of Animal Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Minnesota Extension Service, all at the U of MN and on the St. Paul Campus. In 1991 she moved home to Ellendale. At the time of her death she was working at the Dickey County Leader in production. She was also the sports writer for the newspaper. She was an avid sports fan. At an early age, her parents took her to area sporting events and the love of sports began. She was involved in sports her entire life; as a fan, concession stand owner, working with the Sports Information Office at NDSU, an NDSU Bison and U of MN Gopher fan, long time Twins and Gopher season ticket holder, manager of co-rec and women’s softball teams in St. Paul and the U of MN, and as a spectator. Once she moved back to Ellendale she began writing the sports for the Dickey County Leader and the love of Cardinal sports was part of her life again. Being a member of the Class of 1967, she was proud to be part of the last year the Ellendale Cardinals won the North Dakota State Basketball Championship! While working for the Dickey County Leader and being the sports writer and photographer, she worked closely with the Aberdeen American News as well as the Jamestown and Valley City newspapers getting Ellendale information out to their readers. She was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary Herman Schlinker Post #137 of Ellendale, the Girl Scouts of the USA and the Gopher Chapter of the National Secretaries Association of America. Survivors include her close and dear friend, Dr. Connie Tarasek and her husband, Bob Lahman of Parkers Prairie, MN, her cat Abby, 17 cousins and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, five aunts, five uncles, three cousins and her loving cats Bigfoot, White Cloud and Dakota.