Carole Jean Johnson-Bohlken

Carole Jean was born January 18, 1932, in rural Mantador, ND to Ted and Ella (Rohl) Krause. She was baptized at Belford Lutheran Church in rural Mantador. She had 10 siblings.

The family later moved to rural Wyndmere ND. She was confirmed at the Wyndmere Lutheran Church and attended Wyndmere Public School. She married Robert Johnson on August 16, 1949, to this union, eight children were born. Carole served on the church board, was a 4-H leader, member of Homemakers Club, taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, and worked many years at Anderson Service. She loved to entertain, had many family gatherings, softball games, picnics, potlucks, card games, and loved to sing and dance.

She married Willis Bohlken on December 26, 1974, in Wahpeton ND, where they owned and operated Bohlken Hardware and Furniture and Honda Cycle Shop until retirement. They moved to Fargo ND in 1992. Carole was a member of Olivet Lutheran Church. She loved deer hunting, traveling and attending her children and grandchildren's activities, visiting family and friends. They had a home on Ottertail Lake, and spent the winters in Mesa, AZ and Alamo, TX where she enjoyed oil painting, reading, Red Hats, and mentoring grade school children at Alamo Public School. She entered Edgewood Vista in 2015, and on November 1, 2024, she moved to Eventide where she resided until her death.

She is survived by her three sons, Craig (Nancy) Johnson, Ottertail City MN; Rick (Joyce) Johnson, Wahpeton ND; Dr. Todd (Lauri) Johnson, Minot ND; three daughters Kim (James) Kordovsky, Fargo ND; Kristi (Ed) Loeb, East Lost Lake MN; Naomi Ballard, Wyndmere ND. Stepdaughter Kathleen Bohlken Issaquah WA. One brother Vernon Krause Fargo ND, three sisters-in-law, Priscilla Krause, Wyndmere ND; Donna Krause Hankinson ND; Marleen Krause, Wahpeton ND. Twenty grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and special niece, Sandra (Chuck) Curtis; special friend Clint Anderson, and many loved family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Robert Johnson and Willis Bohlken, five brothers, Alfred, Donald, Willard, Kenneth, Leyone, Krause. Four sisters, Dorothy Peterson, Loretta Dable, LaVelle Odegard, Lucille Kruchek, stepson Bill Bohlken, stepdaughter Barbara Bohlken, infant daughter Renee Johnson, and daughter Pamela (Mark) Herbranson. Sisters-in- law, Viola Krause and Jean Krause. Brothers-in-law, Elroy Odegard, Pete Peterson, Johnny Kruchek, and Frank Dable.

A service to celebrate her life will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 11:00am at West Funeral Home in West Fargo, ND. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior. Burial will take place following services at the Elk Creek Cemetery in Wyndmere, ND.

Services will be made available to view via recording, shortly following the service on Saturday, here on Carole's obituary page. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider making a donation in memory of Carole to Hospice of the Red River Valley. A clickable donation link may be found below. 

Hospice of the Red River Valley

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

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