EVERETTE JOHNSON

EVERETTE JOHNSON

Everette Dan Johnson, 101, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013, in Bayshore surrounded by his family.

Everette was born to Swedish immigrants, the province of Dalarna, Sweden, to Erick and Karin (Danielson) Johnson Dec. 26, 1911, in Minneapolis.

He attended Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis graduating in 1930. He was an avid golfer and on the high school golf team. In the 1930s he attended the University of Minnesota. He left school midway to earn money and went west to California where he had relatives. He worked in a gold mine in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California and then returned to the University of Minnesota to complete his degree in mining engineering. He returned to northern California in the late 1930s and worked again in a gold mine.In the small mining town of Allegheny, he met Frances Antone, who was the local school teacher, and they married in 1938. In 1940 Everette and his wife returned to Minnesota, and he started to work for Oliver Mining Co. in Coleraine on the Iron Range near Grand Rapids. His children, Beverly and Byron, were born during this time. In 1951, Everette transferred to the U.S. Steel office at the Wolvin Building at Third Avenue West and First Street in Duluth. His son, Doug, was born two years after moving to Duluth.

Everette was widowed in 1970. He continued to golf into his 80s. In his 60s he took dancing lessons at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and then enjoyed years of dancing at local clubs such as the Moose and Tony’s Cabaret in Superior. He was a very good dancer and expected his lady friends to dance well, too!

Everette and his family were active in the First Presbyterian Church on Second Street. He enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting. His sons would tell you he taught them about these sports, and they continue these sports to this day. During his later years he often traveled to visit his daughter when she lived in different parts of the U.S. Through the years, Everette had always enjoyed spending time with his family, including great-grandchildren. His children have found him to be always very supportive and interested in their lives. He has always been very proud of his Swedish heritage and visited Sweden in 1974, and several of his relatives have visited Minnesota.

While at Bayshore, he enjoyed social interaction with the staff and loved music; especially the accordion music of Lorren Lindevig. Everette always had several music requests when Mr. Lindevig played! For his 100th birthday he had a “bash” as one of his sons has described his Dec. 26, 2011, birthday. There was music, food, and decorations in yellow and blue to honor his Swedish ancestry. During December, Everette always enjoyed at least one meal of lutefisk to celebrate the holiday season.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; brother Donald; and sister Doris.

Everette is survived by his daughter, Beverly Johnson, of Seattle, Wash.; sons Byron (Susan) Johnson and Douglas (Joanne) Johnson, both of Duluth; grandchildren Jorrie, Eric, Chad, Amber, Mallory, Melinda, and Christine; great-grandchildren Tiffany, Austyn, Will, Calvin, and Kole; sister-in-law Jean Johnson of Eugene, Ore., and her four sons, Craig, Duane, Neil, and Mark Johnson; and niece Susann Baldo.

VISITATION: 4-7 p.m. Monday, March 18, in Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home, 925 E. Fourth St. and 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Tuesday, March 19, in First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Second St. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Memorials preferred to First Presbyterian Church.

To leave a memory of Everette or words of support, please visit our website at www.bellbrothersjarvidowd.com.

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