Harry Johnson

Harry Clarence Johnson, 97, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. He was born on October 15, 1913, to Hans Severin Johnson and Caroline Johnson in Ashby, Minn. He completed High School in Glenwood, Minn., and obtained a degree in accounting at the University of Minnesota. In the summers of 1937 and 1938 Harry was an accountant at the East Glacier Park Hotel in Glacier National Park where he met his future wife, Elizabeth “Libby” Phelps, a waitress at the hotel. They married in 1939 and started their family in St. Paul while Harry worked for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Foundry. In 1950 they moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and Harry began a career with the Otter Tail Power Company, retiring in 1978 as Executive Vice President. A member of the First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, Harry was also an active Rotary Club member for 55 years. Over the years Harry took his family on many camping, hiking and ski vacations in the Northwest and Canada, instilling in them his love of the mountains. After Harry retired, he spent his summers in Glacier National Park. In 1985, Harry married Jane Dorsey and inherited a wonderful second family. The couple spent the next 20 years traveling from their Minneapolis home base, spending summers in Glacier Park. Harry was preceded in death by his first wife, Libby, in 1973; his second wife, Jane, in 2004; and sisters, Jessie Mathieson and Sadie Stranne. He is survived by son Steve Johnson and Sharon of Kalispell; daughter Karen Mauer and Larry of Wilton, Conn.; grandchildren Michael Johnson and Andrea of Kalispell, Emily Johnson Rettig and Brad of Denver, Steve Mauer and Natalie of Missoula, and Jonathan Mauer and Jen of New Hope, PA; six great-grandchildren; and Jane’s children, all in the Minneapolis area: Jim Dorsey and Dee, Ted Dorsey and Hillary, John Dorsey, Kate Dorsey Richardson and Michael. Also surviving him are nephews, John Stranne, James Mathieson and wife Cherie, and niece, Caroline Mathieson. A public graveside memorial service will be held at the Oak Grove Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 16, 2011, in Fergus Falls, MN. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff in the Bratsberg wing of the Immanuel Lutheran Home for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials honoring Harry be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Home, 185 Crestline Ave., Kalispell, MT 59901 or The Glacier National Park Fund, 402 9th St. W., Columbia Falls, MT 59912. Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls assisted with local arrangements.