Reverend Ernest M. Johnson, 85
The Reverend Ernest Manville Johnson, 85, of Blooming Prairie died on Aug. 20, 2008 at Prairie Manor Care Center.
He was born Nov. 24, 1922 to Magnus Sven and Elizabeth Knutiane (Olson) Johnson in Linton, N.D. He grew up in Benton Lake, Mont., where he attended elementary country school. After attending Simms High School in Fairfield, Mont., he joined the Army Air Corps where he served as a Tech Sergeant from Nov. 23, 1942 until his discharge on June 7, 1947. After an honorable discharge, Ernest enrolled in a Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, Wash. He continued his education at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Wash., where he graduated in 1953. Having majored in biology and industrial arts, he entered the mission field where he served in Cameroon, Africa. On Sept. 19, 1953, he married Helen Johansen in Seattle. She died on March 27, 1958. He married Evelyn Jolson on June 11, 1961 in Cameroon, Africa. After a time, he returned to the States to attend Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He was ordained on June 6, 1971. While serving in Cameroon, Pastor Johnson, taught Bible School and served as President of the Northern Region of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. After a total of 27 years in Cameroon, Pastor Johnson and his wife returned to the United States in 1980 to serve as a Pastor on the Devils Lake Sioux Indian Reservation in Tokio, N.D., until his retirement in 1987 when he and Evelyn moved to Blooming Prairie. Pastor Johnson was Chaplain at American Legion Post 52 in Blooming Prairie.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Johnson, Blooming Prairie; three sons, Daniel (Susan) Johnson, East Springfield, Penn., Maj. Edward (Molly) Johnson, Devils Lake, N.D., Chaplain Maj. David (Tricia) Johnson, Bismarck, N.D.; two daughters, Ruth Johnson, Austin, Anne (Shadrick) Rudlong, Blooming Prairie; 10 grandchildren, Sarah, Shelby, Aaron, Caleb, Micah and Isaac Johnson, Jake, Hunter, Alexa and Gracie Rudlong.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth and Magnus; his first wife; Helen Johnson and two brothers, Alfred and Leslie Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, rural Blooming Prairie with the Reverend Gene Leiter officiating. Friends may call from 5 – 7 p.m., Friday at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment is at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Cemetery with VFW Post 878 and American Legion Post 52 escort.