Bryce K. Johnson, 94, of Scranton, ND, passed away at the Ft. Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis, SD, on Thursday, January 21, 2016.

Funeral Services for Bryce will be on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bowman Assembly of God Church. Pastor Ed Kvaale will officiate with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery. There will be Family and Friends Service on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel.
Bryce K. Johnson (BK) was born to Henry and Elvera (Anderson) Johnson on Flag Day, June 14, 1921 on their homestead south of Ralph, SD. Bryce received his education at Ralph, Bowman, Gascoyne and lastly Scranton High School graduating in 1940. At the age of 15, Bryce (to some known as "Red") rode the trains in the summer to Big Timber, MT, looking for work, returning back home in the fall for school. After graduating he worked at the Ford Garage in Scranton.
Bryce enlisted in the Army Air Corp on April 9, 1943, immediately went to Fresno, CA, then on to Denver for more training. While at Denver he married his sweetheart, Annie O. Jorgenson, on November 5, 1943 from Bowman, ND. She accompanied him to Topeka, KS, for more training before being shipped to Africa and then to Italy. On the way back from his 5th mission, June 26, 1944, his B24 was hit by enemy fire. Due to the engines being knocked out of commission the crew prepared to parachute. Four men landed in Czechoslovakia, Five in Hungary (including Bryce), and the plane landed in Austria. Severely wounded, Bryce was immediately captured and after a time of healing, moved to a political prison in Budapest, Hungary. From here he was transferred to a dungeon beneath the prison called "Interrogation Center for Air Force Prisoners" for 30 days of solitary confinement prior to interrogation. Shortly after this, two of the noncommissioned officers were sent to Stalog IV up in Pomerania, East Prussia. He was MIA for several months before his new bride was told through the Red Cross on November 13, 1944 that BK was a POW in Stalog Luft IV. On February 2, 1945, they began the "Black Death March" for three months across Germany. Liberated May 6, 1945, two days before the war was over. On December 11, 1945 Bryce received is Honorable Discharge. Bryce and Annie began farming in 1946. In 1951 they moved to the family farm 12 miles south of Scranton, ND, and resided there until his home going. He was married to his sweetheart 3 days short of 66 years.
He was a member of the Scranton American Legion Post #151 for 70 years, member of the Assembly of God Church since 1957 where he helped teach Sunday school and a deacon, school bus driver, worked at Scranton Equity, leader of the State Line Lad and Lassie 4-H club for almost 40 years. One of his grand highlights of his life was being the N.D. Wagon Master for the Bicentennial wagon train in the fall of 1975 to July 4, 1976. In September of 2005 he received 6 medals earned during WWII but had never received.
Bryce is survived by his children; Kenton (Charolette) Johnson, Keith Johnson, Brenda (Scott) George, and Leanne Allen, 8 grandchildren; Jared (Kandi) Johnson, Brenton (Ashley) Johnson, Brooke (Joe) Wormington, Cory George, Angie (Berna) Cruz, Jessica (Chris) Mann, Justin (Jennifer) Bauman and Melina Bauman, soon to be 10 great grandchildren, sisters-in-law; Leona Brewer, Floy Olson, Clarice Jorgenson, Ramona Johnson, brother-in-law, Vernon Peterson and many nieces, nephews and fine friends.
Bryce was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Elvera Johnson, wife Annie, sister, Yvonne Fiene, brother, Wayne Johnson, brother-in-law, Ernie Fiene, and grandson Kirby Johnson.
Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Services of Bowman in charge of the arrangements.