James Johnson

James "Wally" Wallace Johnson, age 91, of Willmar, died Monday afternoon, Jan. 7, at the Renvilla Care Center in Renville. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, Jan. 11, at the Blomkest Baptist Church in Blomkest Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M. on Thursday, Jan. 10, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials to Bethel University, Trout Lake Camps or the National Parkinson's Foundation are preferred.
Wally was born on July 12, 1916, on the family farm near Svea, Minnesota, the son of Albert and Ellen (Lundgren) Johnson. He grew up in the rural Svea community and received his education in the District #68 school and at the Willmar Business School. He was engaged in farming his entire life and also worked as a foreman building silos. On August 8, 1970, Wally was united in marriage to Pearl Schatz and they made their home in Willmar. Following Wally's retirement in 1980, they have spent many winters in Mesa, Arizona. One winter while in Arizona, he volunteered to help build the Desert View Baptist Church in Gilbert, Arizona. Wally was a life member of the Blomkest Baptist Church where he served as church treasurer, trustee, Sunday school teacher and on the cemetery board.
Wally enjoyed traveling and went on many trips with his wife and friends throughout the United States and Europe. He also enjoyed reading, watching sports and nature programs on television, crossword puzzles, playing chess, collecting stamps and coins and coffee time with his friends.
He is survived by his wife, Pearl of Willmar; one brother, Randolph Johnson (and Patricia Nelson) of Spicer; three sisters, Virginia (and Leonard) Erickson of Blomkest, Dorothy (and Gordon) Wallert of Blomkest and LaRose Stearns-McLeod of Seattle, WA., besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Ellsworth.