The Reverend Melvin Johnson, age 79, of Woodbury, MN and formerly of Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, Virginia, MN, Palo, MN, and Gilbert, MN died Friday, March 23, 2012 in Langton Place in Roseville, MN. He was born November 18, 1932 in rural Tower, MN the son of Leonard and Ailie (Lahti) Johnson and was a graduate of Embarrass High School Class of 1950. Melvin attended Suomi College, received a B.A. from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and his Masters of Divinity from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. He was united in marriage to Norma Lois Laukkonen on September 4, 1954, in the Zion Lutheran Church in Virginia. Melvin led the congregations of: St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Palo, Concordia Lutheran Church in Duluth, and Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. Following his parish ministries, Melvin served on staff with the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in Denver, CO and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Chicago, IL.
Melvin is survived by his daughters: Kristin (Ron) Hebrank of Denver, CO, and Dr. Melanie Jane (Dale Larson) Johnson of Minneapolis, MN; granddaughter: Anna Elizabeth Hebrank and sister-in-law: Violet Laukkonen of Virginia, MN;
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife: Norma; daughter: Rebecca; sister: Marjorie Larson; sister-in-law: Elizabeth and brother-in-law: Albert Laukkonen.
Visitation will be from 9:30 am until the 11:00 am service Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. Reverends Nathan Sager, Antti Lepisto, and Gary Terrio will share the privilege of officiating. Burial will be in the Vermilion Lake Township Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred and will be directed to charitable organizations.
Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Virginia. To share condolences on-line please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com

Thursday March 29, 2012 , 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church

Thursday March 29, 2012 , 11:00 a.m. at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church

Thursday March 29, 2012 , 2:00 p.m. at Vermilioin Lake Township Cemetery