Elmer Arthur Johnson

Elmer A. Johnson age 90 of Balaton, MN died Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Marshall Hospice House. Services will be 10:30 AM Friday, April 24, 2009 at the Skandia Evangelical Free Church, rural Balaton, MN. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 PM Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the Balaton Community Center, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Balaton. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton is handling the arrangements. Elmer Arthur Johnson was born March 3, 1919 to Arthur and Anna (Wichmann) Johnson on the family farm in Skandia Township, Murray County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church and attended Country School District #75. He then attended Balaton Public Schools, graduating from Balaton High School in 1937. In December of 1941 Elmer was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 37th Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division. His unit was a spearhead Division in the European Theatre during WWII. They were in the “Battle of the Bulge” and the first to wait for the Russians at the Elba River. Elmer received his honorable discharge in September of 1945 and he then returned to Balaton where he farmed. In 1963 he began working oart time as a clerk in the Balaton Post Office. He was hired full time as a rural mail carrier in 1969 while also farming and raising quarter horses until 1974. He retired from his full time rural mail carrier position in 1981. On November 10, 1974 Elmer married Sylvia Braband and they made their home in Marshall, MN for one year until they moved into their new home in Balaton. They lived in their home until January of 2007 when they moved into the Lakeview Assisted Living in Balaton. Elmer was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Balaton until it’s closing in 1991, and then attended Skandia Evangelical Free Church in Skandia Township, south of Balaton. He and Sylvia enjoyed traveling, spending winters for many years in Sebring, FL. As a result of failing health, Elmer became a resident of the Tyler Nursing Home in January of 2009 and in February he moved into the Prairie Home Hospice House in Marshall, MN, where he passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the age of 90. Elmer is survived by his wife, Sylvia Johnson of Balaton, MN; one brother, Warner (Opal) Johnson of Aurora, CO; one sister-in-law, Thelma Johnson of Balaton, MN; and several nieces, nephews, relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded him in death by his parents, two brothers, Norman and Arden Johnson and Arden’s wife, Connie.