Donald Edwin Johnson

Donald Edwin Johnson April 4, 1929 - November 22, 2017    Donald Edwin Johnson, age 88, a long time Park Rapids, MN area resident, peacefully entered the glorious splendor of eternity in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids with his loved ones at his side.    Don was born on April 4, 1929 in Arnolds Park, Iowa to Edward and Mabel (Swenson) Johnson. He attended the early grades of school in Arnolds Park, until moving with his family to Eagle Bend, MN where he attended high school and graduated with the Class of 1947. Following graduation, Don ventured to the Twin Cities where he gained employment for several years. He entered the United States Air Force in 1951 where he proudly served his country as an airplane mechanic during the Korean War. After receiving his honorable discharge in 1955, Don returned to Minnesota where he settled in Redwood Falls, MN where he studied radio and television repair. It was there that he met a pretty young nurse, named Sally Adell Kern. The young couple fell in love and were married on August 3, 1957. Their union was blessed with three sons: Neal, Bruce and Michael. The young couple left Redwood Falls after a year or so and moved to Hector, MN where Don started his own Electronics Sales and Repair Shop. In 1974, Don and Sally moved with their sons to a farm west of Park Rapids where Don continued his career in the electronics repairs and sales business. In 1987, Don began working for the United States Postal Service in Park Rapids. He retired in 1991, purchased an RV and he and Sally began travelling and camping throughout the western United States and made two adventurous trips throughout Alaska. In addition, during their retirement years, Don and Sally worked together as custodians for the Faith Baptist Church (Faithbridge). Don loved the outdoors. He especially enjoyed hunting the north woods and fishing the area lakes with family and friends. He was happy and proud to have been able to teach each of his grandchildren how to waterski. Don also enjoyed panning for gold and hunting for rare and precious rocks. Throughout his years on his farm, Don had planted over 36,000 evergreen trees. Above all, Don was a faithful man of God who loved to do visitation work for his church and share the love of Christ and the power of redemption that he had experienced in his life. He will be long remembered for his love and devotion to his wife and soulmate, Sally over their 60 years of marriage and his love for his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.    Don will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Sally; his two sons: Neal (Noi) Johnson of Seattle, WA and Bruce (Mary) Johnson of Brainerd, MN; his three grandchildren: Stephanie (Chris) Patterson of Blaine, MN, Nathan and Nellie Johnson both of Seattle; one precious great granddaughter, Amelia Patterson; his brother, Mervin (Cleone) Johnson of Eagle Bend, MN and his sister, Darlene (Louie) Dent of Wyoming, MN as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.    Don was preceded in death by his grandson, Scott who died in 2005 at age 19 and his son, Michael who died in 2014 at the age of 53.