Merle Johnson

Merle Elliott Johnson was born July 28, 1934 in Alexandria, MN and died November 02, 2020, at the age of 86.

After graduating from high school, Merle attended and graduated from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis with a degree in printing.  After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1956 and was honorably discharged in November 1959.  Following the Marine Corp, he was employed by West Central publishing company in St. Paul, MN, and the Long Prairie Press.

In 1963, Merle then moved back to Garfield, MN to take over the family grocery store (Johnsons Grocery) as the 4th generation to own and manage this business.  While at the grocery store, he assisted in the US post office which was under the same roof as the grocery store.

On November 6, 1965, Merle married Candice Jane Rubink of Garfield.  They were married in St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and had three children. On November 6, 2020, Merle and Candy would have been married 55 years.

Merle was active in civic affairs including but not limited to the following:  The Garfield Fire Department, city council, community chest (raising money for foundations), coaching the Garfield grade school basketball team, teaching Sunday school and singing in the church choir.

Years later after closing the family grocery store down, he was a manager at Holiday Foods in Alexandria then retired in Branson, MO (while working for Mel Tillis) and later moving to Mountain Home, AR.  Merle and Candy then moved back to MN and Merle worked at Pro-Fab in Carlos.  Merle and Candy have spent the remainder of their years living in Alexandria.

Over the years, the couple flipped several homes as a hobby.  Merle's other interests included a passion for restoring antique cars and spending time on his Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents: Harlan and Iola Johnson, his sister, Audrey.

Merle's smile lives on through his three children Jack (Kim) Johnson, Brandt (Tammy) Johnson, Emily (Aaron) Hopkins;  eleven grandchildren and step grandchildren, five great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 6, 2020, 1:00 – 2:00 PM at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Garfield with Funeral Service at 2:00 PM.  Burial will be at St. Luke's Cemetery. For those unable to attend the service it will be live streamed. Masks are required at St, Luke's Lutheran Church.