Ella Johnson Borge

Ella Johnson Borge, 98, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2024. She was born on December 5, 1925 to Julius and Trina Johnson in Niobrara, NE and grew up on a farm in Firesteel.

After graduating from Augustana Academy in Canton, where she met her husband, Alf, Ella taught for two years in a one room schoolhouse. Ella earned her registered nurse degree from Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing in Chicago while Alf attended medical school in Madison, WI.

Ella and Alf embarked on an incredible journey, studying tropical diseases in Panama and learning French in Paris before spending five weeks on a freighter to Madagascar with three-year-old Carol, oneyear- old David and another one on the way. They spent a decade in Madagascar serving as medical missionaries before returning to the United States, eventually making their home in Fargo, ND.

Ella established the Olivet quilting group in the early '70s.

Ella is survived by her children: David (Adrienne) Borge of Tiburon, CA, John (Kathy) Borge of Dent, MN, Ann (David) Richard of Dent, MN, Lila Wills of Pilot, VA, and Richard Borge of Brooklyn, NY; son-in-law Wayne (Cynthia) Reitz; 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Alf; infant son Robert; daughter Carol; and siblings Jasper, Loyd, Irene, Ralph, Leola, Julia, Helen and Walter.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on March 21, 2024 at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Ella to Global Health Ministries, 7831 Hickory St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55432 or online at ghm.org, designated for Ejeda Hospital, Madagascar.

(John Borge’s address is 29210 Silent Haven Dr., Dent, MN 56528.)