Russell Johnson

Russell Johnson, age 84, of Atwater, died Tuesday morning, September 15, at Sunnyview Assisted Living in Atwater.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, September 19, at the United Methodist Church in Atwater. Interment will be at Union Cemetery in Atwater at a later date. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post 167. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, September 18, at Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to Atwater Area Help for Seniors or Rice Hospice.

Russell was born January 4, 1931, near Kerkhoven, Minnesota, the son of Clarence and Blanche (Bengtson) Johnson. He grew up in the rural Kerkhoven area and graduated from Murdock High School in 1950. He served in the Air Force as an airplane mechanic during the Korean Conflict. In 1968, he married Jan Meyring and they made their home in Atwater.

Russell began working at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center in 1964 and worked 28 years as a human services assistance until his retirement in 1993. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Atwater, the American Legion, and the Atwater Threshers. He was also the recipient of the Atwater Good Neighbor Award in 1998. He enjoyed wood-working and built many flower beds and was proud of his rocking horse, which won the Merit Award at the Kandiyohi County Fair. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling all over the world with Jan.

He is survived by his wife, Jan; eight children, Terry (and Becky) Johnson, Greg (and Terina) Johnson, Randy Johnson, Rodney (and Sarah) Johnson, Bradley (and Susie) Johnson, Jody Johnson, John (and Jill) Butler, and Karen (and Dennis) Johnson; 29 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; a brother, Arnold (and Julie) Johnson; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

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