Brian Myrl Johnson

Brian Myrl Johnson, 75, of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota passed away on September 20, 2014 at St. Mary's Essentia Health, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota after a long struggle with COPD. Brian, the son of Myrl and Gladys (Hansen) Johnson was born on April 9, 1939 in Mitchell, South Dakota. In his early years, Brian and his family lived in South Dakota, Illinois and moved to Glenwood, Minnesota in 1948. He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1957. Brian then attended one year of college at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.It was also in Glenwood, where he met and was united in marriage to Janet Mary Buchholz on February 14, 1959. They lived in Morris, Minnesota for a short time and also started working for the Minnesota State Highway Department (MN DOT). In May of 1960, they moved to Detroit Lakes and he was able to transfer to the Minnesota State Highway Department in Detroit Lakes, where he worked for 45 years, retiring in 2004. From their beloved union in marriage, Brian and Jan had their three children, Jill, Kent and Dirk. Brian was a member of First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes. Brian and his wife, Jan enjoyed many activities together, mainly fishing year-round on many lakes in Minnesota, along with special jaunts to North Dakota, Wisconsin, two of the Great Lakes and Canada. He also enjoyed carpentry, card playing, crossword puzzles and just "putzing around" in his garage and yard. In addition to numerous road trips out west and into Canada, he had the fondest memory of a road trip out east with his son Dirk and his wife, Val where he did not have to do any of the driving! Brian is survived by his wife, Janet of Detroit Lakes, MN; daughter, Jill Carter of Alexandria, MN; two sons, Kent (fiancée Stephanie Alger) of Monticello, MN; Dirk (Val) of Eau Claire, WI; six grandchildren; Laura (Drew) Nathan, Andrew Kinnen, Andrea Johnson, Justin Johnson, Jeremy Johnson and Katelyn (Joe) Topp; four great-grandchildren also blessed his life, Natalie, Violet, Jude, Lukas; niece, Debbie (Greg) Gurak and nephews, Jeff (Gina) Rittgers, Kevin (Kathy) Rittgers, Darin (Suzanne) Buchholz, Scott Buchholz, Brent (Ale) Buchholz and Kyle (Samantha) Buchholz. Brian was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Marlene Rittgers, Myrna McLaury, niece, Genell and nephew, John.