Norton Johnson

Norton Johnson January 28, 1928 - August 4, 2010

Norton G. Johnson, age 82, died Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at the District One Hospital in Faribault following a sudden illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault, with the Rev. Kevin Finnegan, pastor officiating. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association. Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to services. Norton Glen Johnson, the son of Albert and Viola (Lindberg) Johnson, was born on January 28, 1928 in Isanti, MN. He attended Cambridge High School and graduated with the class of 1945. In January of 1946, Norton began serving in the U.S. Army and served until July of 1947. On June 10, 1950 he was united in marriage to Virginia Like at St. Ann''s Catholic Church in Slayton, MN. After their marriage Norton worked for four years at the Murray County Herald in Slayton until they moved to Faribault and he began a 31 year career with the Faribault Daily News. Later Norton and Virginia moved to Mesa, AZ and Norton worked for 10 years at the Tribune Newspaper in Mesa. Norton loved baseball and was involved with many teams in Faribault including the Faribault Lakers, American Legion and VFW Baseball teams. He was also an active member of Faribault Sports Inc., the American Legion Post 43 and was helping with the Rice County Central Veterans Honor Guard. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Virginia Johnson of Faribault; by six children, Michael (Janna) Johnson of Cave Creek, AZ, Pat (Steve) Ernste of Faribault, Robert (Rose) Johnson of Faribault, Paul Johnson of Faribault, Norton A. Johnson of Sturgis, SD and Barbara (William) Parks of Bedford, TX; by 16 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren; by two sisters, Amyline Chrastek and Lucille Ahlman, both of Mesa, AZ and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Clinton W. Johnson.