Established on 02.07.1979 by William A. Johnson '49

Lois Eileen (Vikan) Johnson was born in 1927 and raised in Bottineau, ND. The photo may be her high school senior portrait or may be from her college days.  She was the valedictorian of her high school class and attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Lois graduated with a degree in home economics and spent her educational career teaching high school home economics in Weston, OR.   

William Johnson was born in 1927 in Heron Lake, MN and was raised in Windom, MN. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy and completed his training in Seattle, WA just before World War II ended.  He then enrolled in Concordia College, where he received a degree in biology. Lois and Bill both graduated in 1949 and were married that same year. They welcomed four children into their family – Todd, Daniel, Nancy, and Elizabeth.

Bill taught high school and coached basketball and track and field in New York Mills, MN for several years before embarking on a career with Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance that lasted until his retirement in 1988. During that time, he was the General Agent of agencies in both Litchfield, MN and in the Twin Cities metro area. His agency led the nation in insurance sales for most of his years in the Twin Cities.

Concordia was indeed a family affair for both Lois and Bill. Lois’s two older sisters are Concordia graduates as is Bill's older sister. Sadly, Lois passed away in February of 1969.

Joanne Rae (Rider) Johnson was born in 1930 and raised on a farm near Baldwin, WI. After graduating from high school, she was well into a career with Lutheran Brotherhood Life Insurance Company when she met and married Bill in 1969.  She quickly became the best step-mother we four children could hope for and a wonderful wife to our dad. 

After retirement Bill and Joanne were very active traveling and playing golf. They were devoted grandparents to their eight grandchildren and traveled extensively to spend time with them.  Joanne and dad enjoyed a very active life until her death in 2014. 

The Lois Vikan Johnson Endowed Scholarship in Home Economics is awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior student upon nomination from the faculty of the home economics department.