Jack Johnson
Jack Gordon Johnson, age 83 of Northfield, formerly of Babbitt, died Monday evening, January 16, 2012, at the care center of the Northfield Retirement Community.
Jack was born February 26, 1928, on a farm near Plaza, North Dakota, to John and Martha (Fyllesvold) Johnson. After graduating from Plaza High School, he joined the US Army and served from July 1946 to January 1953, serving two years with the Allied Occupation Forces in Japan - being honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant First Class. On June 7, 1953, Jack married Edna Krefting at Barton, North Dakota. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Minot State Teacher College and a Master of Arts degree from Northern State University in Greeley, Colorado (‘57).
Jack was a teacher of music education in Columbus and Riverdale, North Dakota, and in Babbitt, Minnesota, retiring in 1986. Following retirement, he repaired band instruments for Schmitt Music. He enjoyed music, fishing, golfing, cards, woodworking and hunting. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Babbitt - directing the church’s senior choir for over thirty years, a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Northfield, and a member of VFW Post 1539 in Babbitt.
He is survived by his sons: Jeffery and wife Shawn of Richmond, Vermont, Steven of Kansas City, Missouri; 3 grandchildren: Bethany, Michael (Kayla) and Brian; his sister, Grace Johnson of Minneapolis; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife in 2005, his parents, three brothers and three sisters.
Services will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, January 21, 2012, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Northfield with Rev. Tim McDermott officiating. Music will be provided by Rhonda Reece. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service.
A memorial service will be held in Spring/Summer of 2012 at Babbitt Evangelical Lutheran Church. Interment with military honors will be in Argo Cemetery, Babbitt.
Memorials are preferred to the Bethel Lutheran Church-Northfield Building Fund or the Babbitt Evangelical Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home. www.northfieldfuneral.com
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I will miss Jack very
I will miss Jack very much....he was so interesting to talk to and really enjoyed his very good friends, the Evensons. He was definately an icon at the Northfield Retirement Community and will be missed by many. Everyone here really enjoyed his musical talents as well.
Chris Heiman
Catering Coordinator
Northfield Retirement Community
life-long skills
Jack Johnson has always been Mr. Johnson, the teacher, to me. He taught me music -- percussion, bass guitar, and even tuba. I use and enjoy these skills to this day, decades later. Thanks be to God for all he gave to us.
Clay Haapala
Teachers Kid-Class of '76
My condolences to the Johnson family. I had great respect for Mr. Johnson as a teacher, especially as a son of a fellow teacher. Although it has been some time since I've been in the great city of Babbitt, I remember sitting next to Jeff in Band. Jeff was a great classmate and a much, much better muscian that I ever was!! But then, he had a great teacher at home!
Ron Grossman