Arthur "Art" Johnson

Art A. Johnson, age 89, passed away suddenly early Thursday, June 4, 2009 at his home near Fergus Falls in the arms of his wife, Linda. Arthur Andrew Johnson was born March 28, 1920 in Maplewood Township, Otter Tail County to Teman and Ida (Grant) Johnson. He attended several area country schools and worked for the NYA, the WPA and later farmed. He married Darlene Louise Ritchey September 13, 1941 in Fergus Falls. In 1987 Darlene went to reside at Pioneer Home because of Alzheimers Disease, passing away July 1, 1996 in Bemidji, MN. On December 1, 1989 Art married Linda Loll in Fergus Falls, residing with her on his hobby farm until the time of his death. Art worked for the State Hospital in Fergus Falls from 1942 to 1943 when he returned to farming.  Art read meters for the city of Fergus Falls from 1949 until 1953 transferring to Otter Tail Power Company when they bought the electric from the city of Fergus Falls. In 1962 he was hired as shipping clerk for Otter Tail Power working there until his retirement April 1, 1982. After retirement he returned to farming on his hobby farm raising and selling potatoes. He took great pride in being known as the “Potato King on Cabbage Hill.” Later Art and Linda raised horses and ponies they used for pulling wagons in parades all over Otter Tail County for about a dozen years. He delivered Midweeks until the age of 88 for a total of 26 years in 2008 and installed and maintained real estate signs from 1983 until about 2005. No one took greater pride in his family than Art. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as much as humanly possible. His love for his family was evident in his many daily phone calls to his children. Art’s greatest enjoyment came from showing his pony teams in summer parades throughout the area with his wife, Linda. In the early years he was an avid card player. Many family stories came from his Bidding Whist games. His thumping his hand on the table as he laid down the cards and his bidding practices are legendary. Art loved the game of chance that came with the casinos and buying lottery tickets. Art is survived by his wife of twenty years, Linda, a son, Steven D. (Kathy A.) Johnson of Bemidji, a daughter, Cindy A. Hauge of Fargo, three grandsons, Randy (Jody) Johnson of Woodbury, MN, Brian (Jennifer) Johnson of Minneapolis, Ben Hauge of Fargo, ND and one granddaughter, Alexis Hauge of Moorhead, four great grandchildren, Jake and Taylor Johnson of Woodbury and Hudson and Piper Weeks of Moorhead, two stepdaughters, Lisa Sandell of Shakopee, MN and Lynn (Wayne) Rue of Clayton, WI. and stepgrandchildren, Autumn and Teddy of Shakopee, MN. Art is also survived by two brothers, Alvin E. Johnson of Benson, Arizona and Merl T. (Vi) Johnson of Mora, MN and his son-in-law, Gary Hauge of Fergus Falls, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, his brother, Claire M. Johnson of Fergus Falls, MN. and his sister, Betty J. Dunbar of Breckenridge, MN. The funeral will take place at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls on Monday, June 8, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.  Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery.   Visitation is Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Casketbearers will be Randy Johnson, Brian Johnson, Ben Hauge, Alexis Hauge, Gary Hauge, Lyn Hartness, Le Hartness and Marc Hanson.  Honorary pallbearers will be his nieces and nephews. Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com