Harvey Johnson

LIFE HISTORY FOR HARVEY JOHNSON
Harvey Johnson, age 92 of Osakis died on Monday, October 8, 2007 at the Community Memorial Home in Osakis after a brave battle with bone cancer.
Harvey Glenn Johnson was born August 13, 1915 in Greene, ND to John L. and Roberta Johnson. He attended school in Greene through the eighth grade. His family moved to Langdon, ND where he attended one year of high school. In 1931, the family moved to Sauk Valley, MN. He had many jobs throughout his life. He helped his father farm and also helped other farmers, drilled wells, dug basements with horses, anything to earn money during the depression. He started to drive stock truck in South St. Paul in 1938 for $30 per month. He first drove gas truck in 1940. He remembered having to unload the gasoline from the truck by carrying it in pails before there were pumps on the trucks.
In 1942 Harvey joined the Army. He completed 6 weeks of basic training in San Antonio, TX and 6 weeks of Medic training in Laredo, TX. He was transported to New York and then took a ship to England where he served as a nurse during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945. He and all of his 3 siblings served in the armed forces at the same time.
In 1947 he and a friend bought a gas station named Tydol Vidal in Osakis, and sold it a year later. He drove gas truck for the majority of his working life. He drove gas truck for International Elevator, EC Kimball, Conoco, and Deluxe Oil. He was known for the kindness that he showed his customers and for the Tootsie Rolls that he shared with their children.
He married Bernice Eleanor Baker on June 10, 1950 and settled down in a home in Osakis where they lived together until 2005. Bernice had two children at the time; Dexter and Carol. Their daughter, Sharon, was born in 1951. Carol and her family were killed in a car accident in 1965. He was happily surprised to meet another son, Jim Brundage, in 1992. Harvey and Bernice were loyal members of the Osakis Presbyterian Church, where he was an usher and an Elder.
Harvey really loved to drive! He enjoyed driving for work and also took pleasure in planning a two-week family driving vacation each year. He liked to map his route, figure the miles and where they would stop for gas, lunch or resting.
In his "retirement" he enjoyed delivering parts for Osakis Silo Company, delivering cars for Steinbring Chevrolet, mowing lawn, blowing snow, building silo doors and fixing up his trucks and lawn mowers.
Harvey remembered that he got his first radio in 1925 and his first TV in 1955. His first automobile was a Model T that his parents handed down to him. He later had 3 others almost like the first one.
Harvey was the proud grandparent of 9 and great-grandfather of 22. He and Bernice loved to watch their grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports, and you could frequently hear them honking from their reserved seats in their car. They liked to watch or listen to the Twins baseball games and go for car rides. They enjoyed playing cards (including whist, cribbage and skit) and danced a lot in their younger years. He was a kind-hearted and generous man who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He always looked at life with a smile and one of his favorite replies when asked how he was doing was to reply "Fantastic". And he really was!
Harvey is survived by his sons, Dexter and Bernice Baker of Osakis, James and Connie Brundage of Renton, WA, his daughter, Sharon and Jim Fearing of Long Prairie; 9 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Bernice in 2006, a stepdaughter, Carol and her husband, Dennis Green and a step grandson, Bradley Green; two brothers, Keith (Red) and Harlan Johnson and a sister, Joyce Schmidt.
Funeral services for Harvey were held on Saturday, October 13 at 10:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church in Osakis with Rev. Tim Sutton officiating. Musicians were _______________________. Remembrances were given by his daughter, Sharon Fearing. Interment was at the Lakeside Cemetery in Osakis with full military honors provided by the Osakis VFW Honor Guard. Honorary casketbearers were his children, great grandchildren, Osakis VFW Post # 7902, the residents and staff of Terrace Heights and all of his "fantastic" friends. Active bearers were his grandchildren, Cheryl Chermak, Scott, Ken and Kyle Baker, Kristie Giesler, Jody Fearing Trende, Brian Fearing and Michael Brundage. A lunch was served by the Osakis Presbyterian Women following the services.