Merle and Shirley Johnson

Merle and Shirley Johnson were both born in Powers Lake, ND and have known
each other their entire lives. Merle graduated in 1954 from North Dakota State
University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and had a successful career
in aerospace and rockets. They married in Powers Lake after Merle’s service in
the Army in Korea during the Korean War and have lived in California ·ever since.
Merle and Shirley have two sons: Scott is an endodontist and Marshall is an
architect. They also have five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. When
reflecting on NDSU and its impact on them, Merle believes NDSU’s tag line
should be: “From insignificant to significant.” He believes that NDSU provided
him the education for his career and for him and Shirley to raise their family
together. This scholarship will allow them to help others move ‘from insignificant
to significant’!