Thomas M. Johnson

Thomas M. Johnson, age 68 of Park River, ND passed away on Monday, May 1, 2023 at the Sanford Hospital of Fargo, ND.
Thomas Johnson was born July 25, 1954 in Detroit Lakes, MN, the son of the late Carl T. and Marjorie (Nelson) Johnson.  He grew up and attended school in Lake Park, graduating from Lake Park High School.  He then attended the University of Minnesota Waseca graduating with a degree in Soils.  He was captain of his college football team.  He started working as an agronomist in Drayton, ND where he met his wife.  He was united in marriage to Anita Dunford on April 8, 1978 in Lake Park, MN.  They moved to Ladysmith, WI and then returned to Lake Park, MN.  Tom spent time recovering from an anhydrous accident before settling in Park River, ND in 1982.  There he worked as the Manager for the Agronomy Dept. for the local Coop followed by being the Manager for Terra and later Cenex Harvest States agronomy locations until his health forced him to retire in 2007.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing sports, riding his motorcycle and four-wheeler and spending time with family and friends.  He was honored to have had the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam, Holland; Kiev, Ukraine; Moscow, Russia and Shortandy, Kazakhstan with Keith Johnson of Dupont on an` International Agricultural Symposium.  He was also very honored to have signed as the witness for his son’s marriage to Christina on April 14, 2023.
The family would like to give a very special “THANK YOU” to Dr. Johnson, Tammy Clemetson and all the nurses and employees of both the hospital and clinic for all they have done for Tom over the years!  He always received excellent care and was a very spoiled patient.
Tom is survived by his wife Anita, Park River, ND; children Erica Johnson and Brett (Christina) Johnson, both of Thief River Falls, MN; granddaughter Leonna Johnson; brother Ted (Pam) Johnson, Red Wing, MN; and a brother from another mother, Paul (Shirley) Rustad, Fargo, ND.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Tom and Betty Dunford and 2 brother-in-laws, Doug Dunford and Rod Puppe.
 A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 from 5-7 PM at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Park River.  A prayer service will follow at 7:00 PM at the church.  Another visitation will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM   at Lake Park Lutheran Church of Lake Park, MN.

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