Swede & Ione (Muralt) Johnson Family

The Lorentz “Swede” Johnson and Ione Johnson-Muralt family have a rich history at NDSCS, and we’re proud to recognize their support with the 2024 Family Tradition Award.

The late Lorentz “Swede” Johnson was a 1957 Auto Mechanic graduate of NDSCS. During his time at the College, Swede served as Treasurer of the Auto Mechanic Club in 1953. He took a break from college and served 2 years in the US Army where he was stationed in Korea. He returned to NDSCS where he met and married Ione Ordahl, who graduated in 1957 from the Secretarial Program. He and Ione lived in Wahpeton, ND, before later moving to Breckenridge, MN, where they raised three children: Larry, Cindy & Joel.

Swede taught Diesel Mechanics at NDSCS from 1961 to 1979 and served as the department chair for 18 years. Ione also worked at NDSCS, starting in the Trades Office right after she graduated. Swede and Ione established the Lorenz “Swede” and Ione Johnson Endowment in 1982. The scholarship is awarded to a second-year student in the Diesel Technology Program, as a way to give back to deserving students, just as Swede appreciated receiving scholarships when he was a student. Additionally, Ione and Swede are members of the Blikre Society. The family lived one year in Jamaica and eight years in Indonesia before moving back to Wahpeton. Swede passed away on October 21, 1993, from a brain aneurysm.

Two of their children carried on the family’s legacy at NDSCS by also attending and graduating from the College.

Larry Johnson graduated from NDSCS Pre-Engineering in 1977 and continued his education at NDSU to receive a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked at British Petroleum from 1981 to 2022. His wife, Joyce, also worked at British Petroleum and retired in 2018. Larry and Joyce live in Belleair, FL and have three daughters, Linnea, Angelina & Kathryn and three granddaughters.

Cindy Johnson-Nelson graduated from NDSCS Accounting in 1979, went to MSU for a B.A. in Elementary & Special Education in 1984, and received her master’s degree in psychology at the University of Southern Connecticut in 1988. She married Ted Nelson, and they live in Orlando, FL. Cindy is the Executive Director at UU Wellspring Inc., and Ted works for Lenar Home Builders. Cindy now goes by her middle name, Linnea. They have two children, Joel and Nicholas.

Joel Johnson went to NDSU, receiving a B.S. Degree in Construction Management in 1991. He received his MBA Degree at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2004. Joel is the CEO of Borusan Pipe Company. He married Margarita Torrente, and they live in Houston, TX. They have a daughter named Natalia.

Ione currently lives in Wahpeton and is married to Chuck Muralt. They wed on July 30, 2000. Ione and Chuck are members of the Catbackers Club and the NDSCS 300 Club, and love attending the annual Scholarship Luncheons to meet their scholarship recipients. The family has lived & worked in 16 countries. They enjoy traveling and appreciate coming back to their deep connections at NDSCS.