James 'Kyle' Johnson, 61, of Kintyre, ND peacefully passed away with loved ones by his side on October 18, 2024, at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Feist Funeral Home, Napoleon, ND. Visitation will be held Monday, October 21, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 PM at Feist Funeral Home, Napoleon. Burial will be held at the Napoleon City Cemetery.

Kyle was born in Jamestown, ND to John K and Edna (Drake) Johnson on February 23, 1963. He graduated from Napoleon High School in 1981, became an expert welder at Wahpeton State School of Science, and got his first job in Denver. It did not take long for Kyle to feel the pull back to the family farm, where he, alongside his father, dedicated his life's work.

Life was a great adventure for Kyle. He was a kid at heart enjoying ski trips to Denver, dart league, poker tournaments, ice fishing, barrel rolls in his brother's airplane, football games, and anything that involved his beloved nieces, nephew, and their children including going down waterslides with the kids 6 months after getting his hip replaced.  He loved all his dogs and had a gift to train them, especially his German Shepherds who he trained to do many special tricks.  His last dog, Sparky, was his favorite companion.  He made many memories running Sparky along the section lines and taking Sparky on his daily pickup rides through the fields of grain and pastures.

His most joyful adventures were the simple ones of the everyday farm life – spring planting, summer haying, fall harvest, and daily monitoring of the cattle.  He loved his cattle but delegated fixing fence to his brother-in-law.  The kids treasure their many memories of Uncle Kyle's cows getting out of the gate, walking across the road, and roaming outside the kitchen window.  They even created a song they sang every time it happened which they randomly still sing.

Kyle was a wonderful role model for how to value other people above all else. He was kind, generous, trusting, and admirably slow to anger. He had patience in difficult situations, desired peace and harmony in all relationships, took the bad end of the deal if it meant someone else got the good end, and went to great lengths to make people laugh. His love language seemed to be pulling pranks and teasing those he loved the most. Kids were drawn to sit by him knowing he would likely try to swipe food off their plates and wanted to walk by him to play the game of evading the inevitable kick in the butt that was coming. The sound of his laughter and his loving spirit are everlasting gifts to us all.

Kyle is survived by his mother Edna (Drake) Johnson, sister Laurie (Roger) Weigel, Bismarck, and brother Jeff (Patricia) Johnson, Denver; 7 nieces and nephews, Michelle, Mitch, Michaela, Jessica, Kelsey, Rachel, and Colleen; and 13 great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father John K Johnson, grandparents Emil (Anna) Johnson, grandparents Clarence (Helen) Drake, and many beloved aunts and uncles.

Kyle's last spoken words were, "Just give me five more minutes."  All who love Kyle wish for the same thing, and we all know five minutes was never enough.