Hjalmar R. Johnson

WARBA — Hjalmar R. Johnson, 97, of Warba, Minn., died Dec. 16, 2010, at Sugar Brook Villa in Cohasset, Minn.

Hjalmar was born in Warba to Carl and Anna Johnson. He attended school at Warba and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He worked on the family farm north of Warba. He was a construction engineer for the Great Northern Railroad from 1938 to 1974 in Superior, Wis., South Dakota and throughout northern Minnesota.

Hjalmar authored several books, including, “Something About Myself,” “Something About Deer Hunting and Our Camp,” and “Bits & Pieces.”

Hjalmar was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Mabel in 1979; second wife, Lorraine in 1997; two sons, Bruce in 1962 and Maynard in 2007; one granddaughter, Diane McDannell in 2010; one great-grandson, Brady Besmehn; a great-great-grandchild; and 11 brothers and sisters.

Hjalmar is survived by a son, Clyde (Aloha) Johnson, of Tacoma, Wash.; a daughter-in-law, Bernice Johnson, of Brainerd, Minn.; a stepson, Timothy (Georgie) Orr, of Deerwood, Minn.; a stepdaughter, Kerri Jo (Joseph) Pauman, of Cortez, Colo.; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great- grandchildren; a sister, Laverna Sutherland, of Grand Rapids; an “adopted” daughter, Gwen Black, of Deer River, Minn.; a goddaughter, Janice Kangas, of Bovey, Minn.; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service on Monday, Dec. 20 in Bethel Lutheran Church in Warba.

Burial will be in Warba-Feeley Cemetery.

Arrangements with Libbey Funeral Home, Grand Rapids.