Thomas W Johnson

Thomas Johnson, formerly of Milan, MN passed away on March 1, 2023 at Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall, MN at the age of 95.

Memorial services will be held Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Kviteseid Lutheran Church in Milan. Pastor Kristine Isder will officiate and internment will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour before the service.

Thomas Wesley Johnson was born on September 5, 1927 in Montevideo, MN, the son of Henry and Mabel (Banta) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at Kviteseid Lutheran Church. Tom played basketball and graduated from Milan High School in 1944. He was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Dove, on June 6, 1948 at Kviteseid Lutheran Church. They made their home on the family farm near Milan. Tom raised corn, soybeans, and hogs, and continued farming until retiring in 1991. While in Milan, Tom served as a Chippewa County Commissioner, was a charter member of the Milan Lions Club, and held leadership positions at Kviteseid Lutheran Church.

In 1993, Dorothy and he moved to Lake Minnewaska near Starbuck, MN living there during the summers and spending winters in Arizona, thoroughly enjoying their retirement. Tom was passionate about silver smithing and taught many students at both Bell Silver in Sun City, AZ and the Village Arts School in Milan.

Tom was an avid fisherman and hunter and especially enjoyed these passions with family. He was a voracious reader and a staunch Vikings football fan. Dorothy and he enjoyed square dancing and traveling the world. They loved to play Bridge with their many friends and taught their grandchildren at a young age to play Minnesota Rummy. They also were proud of their Norwegian heritage and enjoyed making Scandinavian delicacies. Tom even perfected a unique recipe for paper-thin lefse and taught lefse-making in Milan.

Preceding Tom in death were his parents and his brother, Donald. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; three sons: Doug (Kathy) of Logan, UT; Dale (Connie) of Park Rapids, MN; Paul (Lois) of Marshall, MN; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.