Edsel F. Johnson

Date of Birth: July 7, 1919 Date of Death: December 10, 2010 Edsel Floyd Johnson (Teddy) was born to Henry and Minnie Johnson on July 7, 1919, along with a twin sister, Marcel. He and Marcy were the 7th and 8th child, following Russell, Ethel, Lowell, Wendell, Laurel and Muriel who have all passed away. His little sister, the 9th Johnson, Carrel Wensman is currently living in Arizona and Minnesota. Teddy walked to Goose Lake elementary, graduated from Forest Lake HS, and then attended Gustavus Adolphus College, where he majored in business administration. There he met the love of his life, Mignon Carter, while showing off on figure skates. Their first date was a skirt and sweater hop and thats when their dancing started. Then he was drafted into the US Army Air Corps as a staff sargeant. Edsel and Mignon were married in Spokane, Washington, before he was sent to the Pacific during WWII. He was in Saipan when the war ended. Dianne was born shortly after he returned from the war, then followed by Kristen and Scott. He began family life in St. Paul working for Blomquist Realty. The family moved to Scandia in 1955, when he was called by his father to take over for him at Security State Bank of Marine. Edsel worked at the bank for 30 years, eventually serving as President, as well as on the Board of Directors after he retired. Edsel has been a lifelong member of Elim Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir, served on the church council and the board of Gammelgarden Museum. He was a volunteer fireman and a founding member of the Scandia Marine Lions Club. He served on the Scandia Development Corporation that orchestrated the building of the Scandia Cottages, an award winning senior housing project. He believed in it, so aging township residents would have a place to live without leaving Scandia. It was ironic that when they signed up to live there, it was full with a waiting list. Edsel and Mignon were married 67 years, they danced together throughout their lives as well as golfed, cross country skied and played cards, especially bridge. He loved to fish, hunt and the family often thought he loved mowing the lawn, too. He certainly enjoyed the out of doors, especially at the extended familys lodge named RatHouse! Edsel and Mignon spent many winters living in Sun City, AZ. They eventually moved to a Lindstrom townhouse near the golf course in 1998, then to Point Pleasant in Chisago City, and after a detour or two, he finally returned to his beloved Scandia, living at September Cottage eldercare home, where he passed away on Dec 10, 2010. His family who loved him dearly are daughters Dianne Johnson (Gene Hallberg), Kristen Lindberg (Jim), and son Scott Johnson (Jan); five grandchildren, Jeff (Karen) Lindberg, Becky (Rob) Brunette, Angela (Todd) Rassas, Jill (Josh) King, Mackenzie Johnson, and seven great grandchildren. We all would like to thank Alana Sundberg and Justin Snell and their family for their tender care of Teddy in his last few months in Scandia. Visitation amp; Memorial Service Visitation 4-8 PM Friday, Dec. 17th at Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 Centennial Dr. SW, Forest Lake. Memorial Service 11 AM Saturday, Dec. 18th at Elim Lutheran Church, 20971 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN with visitation beginning at 10 AM until time of service. Memorials preferred to Elim Lutheran Church or Gammelgarden Museum.