Johnny Thomas Johnson

Johnny T. Johnson, a hard-working and loving father, husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on April 20, 2024. He was outside doing work he enjoyed, and was immediately ushered into the presence of the Lord he trusted and believed in. Johnny T. received a truly rapid response, and kind, respectful care from all those on the scene. His family will be forever grateful – he loved the communities here so much.

John Thomas Johnson was born on March 27, 1977 in Alexandria, Minnesota on a sunny spring Sunday. He completed the family of Gerald and Cheryl (Torgusen) Johnson and their two older children, Christopher, and Terri.  Johnny was baptized at Chippewa Lutheran Church on May 8, 1977, with his parents and sponsors, Janice and Willis Gudmundson, all of whom affirmed that Johnny would be raised in the Lutheran faith. He confirmed his baptism at Chippewa on May 5, 1991, and graduated from Evansville High School in 1995.

Johnny T. was named after his great-grandfather, Johnnie T. Johnson. All the boys in that family had the middle initial “T” – which stood for Tollef, their father, though they didn’t actually have the middle name of Tollef. These Johnson ancestors were referred to as the “T Johnsons” to differentiate them from the other Johnson families in the area.

Johnny immersed himself in nature as a tiny tot. Evening swims after chores at Red Rock Lake were a family tradition, and the neighborhood folks would gasp when they saw this tiny 2-year-old swimming with the minnows. When he was just 6 years old, Johnny fell in love with skiing at Andes Tower Hills, which was not far from the family homestead. His effortless grace on the mountain and in the air mirrored his natural comfort in the water – he truly was at home on land, in the water, and in the air.

Farming was Johnny’s true passion, and he started farming before he graduated high school, taking on his Grandpa Orvin’s farm after Orvin died in 1994. For over a decade Johnny worked on farms in the region, doing some of his own work, and doing some work for area farmers. His dream was to someday own his own little farm, and he has passed his love of farms, farm animals, and even farm machinery on to his own children.

Johnny met Brittany Peterson during the winter of 2006 while making snow at Andes Tower Hills.  They traveled all over the western U.S. on ski trips and Johnny faithfully joined Brittany as she traveled around Minnesota attending snowboard competitions.  Johnny joined Brittany mowing lawns at Peterson Lawn Service in the summer of 2010.  He quickly became the face and driving force behind the business.  The couple worked together side by side for 14 years.

On August 23, 2014 the couple were united in marriage at St. Petri Lutheran Church.  Their first child, Elsie Mae, was born on January 7, 2019.   Clayton Gerald followed a few short years later on September 10, 2021.  Johnny was a dedicated father, spending his time working and playing with his kids.

Johnny was preceded in death by his grandparents Orvin and Nadine Johnson, Shirley and Ervin Cichy, and Francis Haabala; sister-in-law Lynnette Marie (Fuchs) Johnson; Aunt Sheila Torgusen; and Uncle Roy Torgusen.  He is survived by his wife Brittany; his beautiful children Elsie and Clayton; his parents Gerald and Cheryl Johnson; his mother-in-law Luanne Peterson; his sister Terri Johnson; his brother and sister-in-law Christopher and Denise (Marquette) Johnson; his sisters- and brothers-in-law Stephanie and Paul Faris and Kristin Peterson and JC Salscheider two great aunts, four aunts, three uncles, seven nieces,  seven nephews, six great-nieces, three great-nephews, a plethora of cousins, and many, many good friends.

A visitation will be held at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria from 4:30 to 7:30 PM on Friday April 26^th.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday April 27^th at 11 AM at Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville with an additional visitation one hour prior to service.  Burial will immediately follow the service at St. Petri Lutheran Church Cemetery.   Pastor Dwayne Frykman will officiate.