Florence A. Johnston

Florence A. Johnston

Florence Avivian Johnston, nee Lesher, was born July 15, 1911 to Harry Barclay and Ina Hawk Lesher at Cavalier, North Dakota. She was the oldest of 11 children and attended Cavalier public school and completed 5th and 6th grades in one term graduating from Cavalier High School on May 24, 1928. Florence was accepted at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and lived in Wilmette while attending the University. She went on to attend Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, to be near her cousins. She was a member of Delta Theta Phi sorority. She then returned to Cavalier and worked as a secretary and other positions during the depression.

Florence married William L Johnston December 1, 1936 and lived north of Crystal where they farmed and ran Johnston Insurance, while working as agents and adjusters. They retired and moved from the family farmstead to Cavalier in 1984. Florence continued to live in their home on Grace Avenue until moving to Country Estates and then Borg Pioneer Memorial home in Mountain, ND. She held positions in the Crystal Methodist Church as teacher, Superintendent of the Church school, and as UMW President. Florence was a member of the Cavalier Eastern Star, Past Matron and District Deputy, as well as holding other offices.

Florence and William were parents of three sons Richard, Robert (Sonja) and Donald. She was grandmother to five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren:, Joanna Johnston Beltran, (Michael), son William NY, New York; Robert Jr. (Michelle), sons Quinnann and Jordan, Burnsville MN; Kimberly Johnston Archbold (David), sons Zachary, Sam, Joshua and daughter Victoria, Peachtree City, GA; Mark Johnston, daughter Katie and son Thomas, Apple Valley, MN; and Brian Johnston, daughters Jennifer and Stephanie, Houston, TX. One sister, Opal Hall, of Dallas, TX, survives her.

Florence was preceded in death by husband, William, on November 26, 1994 and son Richard, January 20, 2000, and by nine brothers and sisters: Leonard, Gale, Willard, Viola, Lyle, Fay, Lorraine, Harry and Lillian.

Visitation will be at Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier on Thursday, October 20, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral will be held at Crystal Methodist Church on Friday, October 21, 11:00a.m.
Florence passed away Monday, October 17, 2011, at the Wedgewood Manor Nursing Home.
Memorials to the Crystal Methodist Church