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Russell C. Johnson, Moose Lake, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, at the age of 88 in Augustana-Moose Lake Village after a short illness.

Russell was born on Dec. 21, 1933, to Selma (Anderson) and John E. Johnson at home east of Moose Lake.

The family moved to a small farm west of Moose Lake in 1941, where Russ lived until he died.

Russell grew up in Moose Lake and graduated from Moose Lake High School in 1951. After his father died suddenly in March of 1953, Russell remained at home to take care of his mother and younger sister, Rosalie. His older brother, Roland, had joined the Navy.

Russell continued farming as well as working at Lampert Yards, where he hauled coal, brought in on the Soo Line trains, to area homes and businesses.

After a few years, Russ moved on to a retail setting where he remained for the rest of his working life of 60 years. He spoke fondly of employers, Ted and Edie Anderson, who owned the Western Auto store, located where the State Farm office is now on Arrowhead Lane.

That store was later sold to Alvin and Rhoda Olesen, who moved it to where Vision Pro is now located, and then to Bob and Judy Peterson, who changed the store to Champion Auto. Bob Peterson said that Russell trained him on the different brands that he hadn't worked with before. Russ also became the tractor parts expert in the area.

When the store was sold again to Bumper to Bumper, and then to O'Reilly Auto Parts, Russell continued to work for the business. In his later working years, he delivered auto parts to mechanics throughout the area until he retired at the age of 80.

Russ continued to farm but developed an interest in racing. He would often spend Friday nights with friends driving to and from Superior to watch the stock car races at the speedway. In later years, Sundays were spent watching the Vikings and/or NASCAR races. He also was a fan of the Minnesota Twins.

His passions were fishing and hunting. He taught many of his nieces and nephews how to fish and hunt. He accompanied close friends on the annual opening weekend fishing trip in May each year to Little Winnibigoshish. He hunted deer with friends at home in November. Many stories were told when the hunters came to talk with his mother and then, later, at the hunting shack during the season.

Russell married Lois Torkelson on Oct. 4, 1969. They did not have children but visited elder family members often. The couple celebrated their 50 ^th wedding anniversary in 2019.

Russell is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Rosalie Brink; his niece, Karen Brink Higbee; and nephews, Kevin and Brendan Johnson.

He is survived by his wife, Lois; step-daughter, Michelle Monahan; brother and sister-in-law, Roland and Imogene Johnson; nieces, Prudence, Maybeth (Pinky), Julie (Mike Benyo), and Charlotte (Eric Swanson); nephews, John (Zoe), Patrick (Linda), Christopher (Rebecca), Brian (Betsy), Bill (Chris) Brink, and Rick (Kathy) Brink; nephews' wives, Mary and Stephanie; sisters-in-law, Melva (Buzz) Hecker, Edna (Bob) Jackson, and Jean (Mike) Zimmerman; brother-in-law, Leon (Julie) Torkelson; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

A private family and special friends only service will be held in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home on Saturday, January 22 ^nd , 2022. Inurnment will be held in the spring at Riverside Cemetery, Moose Lake.