Allen Johnson

Allen “Big Al” S. Johnson, 89, Hibbing, MN, died on Veterans Day, Sat. Nov. 11, 2017 at the Chris Jensen Health Care Center, Duluth, MN.  He was born Dec. 23, 1927 in Duluth to Albert and Florizel Johnson.  Al lost his father at an early age that forced he and his brothers to become wage earners to support their widowed mother.  He worked for the railroad until he lied about his age to get into the Marine Corps at age 17.  He holds the unofficial record for the shortest period of time served before being demoted from sergeant to private.  He served in China for a short while before joining the reserves.  When the Korean War started, Al was forced to ship out.  As he had just married Marion Erickson on Oct. 21, 1950, whom he had met after an arranged blind date set up by mutual friends, Al was reluctant to go.  As he puts it: “It was at gunpoint”.  He served honorably earning two purple hearts and numerous other citations.  He also maintained lifelong friends from his service.  Following the war he worked for 5 years as a truck driver for Railway Express.  He became a deputy sheriff for St. Louis County where he worked until his retirement.  He also worked security detail when then vice president Walter Mondale would visit Duluth.  Al treated everyone fairly, honorably and with respect.  He was a deputy sheriff but he was a human being first.  He knew how to read people and how to approach them.  He never “brought his work home” as he sheltered his wife and family from the hazards of his job.  In his free time Al used his cabin on Big Sturgeon Lake as his retreat.  He also was an avid hunter and fisherman for many years, especially enjoying his hunting shack with Walter Mondale and Fran Befera among others.  He was an active member of the VFW Post 8510, the DAV Chapter #3, the American Legion Post #222 and was the founder of the Iron Range Veterans Rider Program, transporting veterans to the VA hospital in Mpls.  He did the driving while his wife did the books.  He loved bowling in the city leagues and he and his brother, Lloyd, attended every Minnesota High School State Hockey tournament for 30 plus years.  Since his military experience was so important to him, Al was very involved in military honors in the community. He established and was part of the colors presentation at Hibbing High School hockey games for over 40 years and also served on numerous color guard groups.

He is survived by daughters: Dotti (Andy Rusk) Johnson of Colorado Springs; CO, Teresa (Joe) Zlonis of Hibbing and Holly (Ed) MacDonald of Westminster, CO; grandchildren: Cale Zlonis, Raena (Darion) Alexander, Layne Zlonis, Sarah (Scott) Wermuth, Cory MacDonald and Rachel MacDonald, and his great grandchildren: Nakaeda Zlonis and Kendrik Zlonis, Asher Alexander, and Carson MacDonald and his brother Gayle P (Donna) Johnson of Watertown, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 66 years Marion E. Johnson, brothers, Donald and Lloyd and sisters, Evelyn Kirk and Betty Olson.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Mid Range Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Iron Range Veterans Rider Program.