Michael Gene Johnson

About Michael

Mike Johnson, 79, Park Rapids, MN died Monday January 9th, 2023 at CHI St. Joseph’s Health in Park Rapids, MN.

Mike was born June 3rd, 1943 to Aldo and Doris (Kyllo) Johnson of Fargo, ND. He was the oldest of 3. Growing up in Fargo, ND, Mike learned his work ethic as a young kid and got a job delivering papers for The Fargo Forum. And if you asked him about it, he had the “largest newspaper route ever” for the entire newspaper. He played football and graduated from Oak Grove High School in Fargo.

He met Patricia “Pat” Feig while attending Oak Grove and they were married the summer after Pat’s graduation on August 11, 1962 in Peever, SD. Mike and Pat enjoyed and celebrated their 60 years together this last summer. When they were newly married and had their first son, Greg, Mike was attending school and received his college degree in business from NDSU while working evenings at Oak Grove Creamery making ice cream and Oak Manor. Mike was a lifelong fan of the Bison Football and followed them on radio and TV any chance he would get. Go Herd!

After graduation from NDSU, Mike and Pat moved the family to Minot, ND where he would manage the Viking Table smorgasbord restaurant, which he later purchased with 2 partners and renamed and rebranded it as McJack’s, a supper club.

Their family grew with their new sons Brett and Eric, and they attended Zion Lutheran Church. As a family they enjoyed lots of camping in the summers at Garrison Dam, Lake Metigoshe, the Turtle Mountains, Black Hills of SD, throughout Minnesota along with longer fishing/camping expeditions into northern Canada. The highlight camping expedition was to Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.

Eventually, Mike moved into the car and truck sales business with Westlie’s Ford. Mike was a top performer with Westlie’s and within Ford that helped to get recognition and trips to annual conventions in the Bermudas and Hawaii that he and Pat attended together and shared many memories.

While in Minot, Mike and Pat were active in the Jaycees organization which also helped sponsor the local Soap Box Derbies and Donkey Softball Events as well as other community service events. They also were avid bridge players and loved to entertain in their home. Mike enjoyed golf, fishing, snowmobiling, and hunting. Hunting would be his biggest passion and he had numerous excursions with his friends to hunt geese and ducks near Dunseith, ND, ruffed grouse in the Turtle Mountains, deer across all of North Dakota and his favorite was to hunt pheasants in southwest ND. He also loved cooking up some of his harvested game at wild game feeds.

Mike would remain in car and truck sales, along with leasing and financing for the remainder of his career in Bismarck and Fargo, ND. He worked for and/or co-owned several companies SunWest Leasing, Red River Manufacturing, Eide Ford, Peterbilt Trucks… and eventually was the sole proprietor of Center Auto Sales and Leasing until his retirement.

Mike loved family gatherings with his kids, grandkids and relatives and he loved everyone busy cooking and having fun! His love for life, family, and his loyalty to his many friends is what he lived for. For many years in the fall the family would get together to make salsa with tomatoes and peppers from their garden or local farmer’s markets. Mike and Pat enjoyed their lake home on 8th Crow Wing Lake and eventually after retiring moved to Park Rapids, MN.

He is survived by his wife Pat, sons Greg (Elizabeth) Cape Coral, FL, Brett (Chely) Roseville, MN, Eric (Susan) Felton, MN. Grandchildren - Krystianna Minneapolis, MN, Zachariah (Anne) New Brighton, MN Josiah Plymouth, MN, Cristian Fort Collins, CO, Micah, Dakota, Roseville, MN and Keegan, Gideon, Felton, MN. Brother - Bruce (Jan), Aberdeen, SD.

He is preceded in death by his parents Aldo and Doris Johnson and brother Tim Johnson.

A special thank you to CHI St Joseph’s Health, Heritage Community and Living at Home of the Park Rapids Area, with special thanks to other caregivers and coordinators, Julie Neis, Barb Wilson, Jill Grimes and Laurel Hed. We so appreciate you all and the many ways you have blessed our family over this last year.

memorial service

Funeral Service for Michael

January 14, 2023

Cease Family Funeral Home 710 1st St W, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Pastor Tim Balfanz will be officiating. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Park Rapids.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home