Obituary of Robert James Johnson

Robert James Johnson, 93, of Northome, MN, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the Memory Care Unit in Bigfork, MN, on October 22, 2020.

Robert was born on April 18, 1927 in Chicago, IL, to Sander and Hattie Johnson.  He grew up and attended school in Bensenville, IL, twenty miles west of Chicago.  He had many jobs in Bensenville.  As 4F in the draft, he quit school and assembled radios for Naval planes, worked at International Harvester as a machinist, and worked at Mars Candy Company. 

After he moved to Northome, he met, fell in love with, and married Bernice Torkelson, daughter of Martin and Selma Torkelson on May 14, 1947 in Grattan Township, with Richard Bender and Arlene Torkelson as attendants.  Robert owned a small logging company and worked as a logger for Tumps Bloom for many years. He also ran a small family farm. After retiring from logging, he worked at Mizpah Precision, rebuilding valve lifters and picked Balsam boughs for local wreathmakers.

Robert was an avid outdoorsman, loved flying radio-controlled airplanes, painted beautiful paintings in oil paint, and carved and painted amazingly intricate birds.  Later he branched out into carving other animals and quaint little people.

He had a tough constitution, surviving two bouts of cancer.  He was a simple, but deeply spiritual man, influencing many people to think about Jesus and eternal life.

 Robert is survived by two sons, Steven (Janet) and Calvin (Eileen) both of Northome; seven grandchildren, Matthew of Northome, Tanner of Meadowlands, MN, Tad (Aleesha) of Bemidji, MN, Leah (Matt Clausen) of Richfield, MN, Austin (Janelle) of Bemidji, MN, Dane (Becky) of Shevlin, MN, and Caitlin of Northome; 12 great grandchildren, Martin, Cedrick, Rosalena, Ruth, Bernice, Gwen, Jaxson, Landon, Logan, Weston, Mia, and Ellie; and sister, Lorraine of Tahlequah, OK.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Sander and Hattie, loving wife Bernice, son, Martin, daughter, Sharon; brothers Tom (Kaye), Leonard; and brother-in-law, Bill Brown.

A thought Robert wrote down rather puts life in perspective: “ I thank God for taking me out of my life of ignorance about Him and gave wealth beyond measure in God and His family.”