Bruce Johnson

Bruce Johnson, of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at
the St. Catherine’s South Nursing Home in Fargo, ND, at the age of 73.
Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at Johnson
Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in
Thief River Falls. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service.
Bruce Johnson was born to Clarence and Madeline Johnson on December 5 th 1951 in
Drayton, ND. He was raised on the family farm near the small town of Robbin, MN. He
attended school in Stephen, MN graduating in 1969.
In the fall of 1969, he moved to Thief River Falls, attended a welding program at
Northland Community & Technical College, and began working part-time at Farmers
Union Oil Co. He graduated from Northland’s Welding program in January of 1971.
\On January 25 th , 1971 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and attended Basic Training
in Fort Lewis, WA and Advanced Individual Training in Fort Sill, OK where he was
qualified as a Field Artillery-man. After his initial training he was assigned to the 3 rd
Battalion 6 th Field Artillery of the 1 st Infantry Division. While part of the 1 st Infantry
Division he served as a crewman on an 8” Howitzer. He also served in Battalion
Maintenance as a welder and mechanic. He was honorably discharged from active duty
in January of 1973. He then returned to Thief River Falls and continued employment at
Farmers Union Oil Co. where he would remain until retirement in 2016. In 1977 he
joined the Minnesota National Guard as a mortarman. He continued to work his way up
the Non-Commissioned Officer ranks, retiring as a Master Sergeant/E8 in 1996.
Bruce was married to Janet Molskness on October 10, 1981 at First Baptist Church in
Thief River Falls. They had two sons; Micah (June 29, 1984) and Andrew (February 15,
1986).
Bruce helped on Janet’s home farm west of Thief River Falls and eventually moved the
family there and continued farming on the evenings and weekends when he wasn’t
working at Cenex.
After retirement he continued to enjoy farming, snowmobiling, restoring antique
tractors, and fixing whatever needed it. He was an avid history buff of war, and the
pioneer past.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Janet of 43 years; sons, Micah (Teresa) Johnson of Fargo,
ND, and Andrew (Diane) Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren, Caleb, Sarah,
Mary, Helen, and Peter; sisters, Lorraine Flaten of Maple Grove, MN, and Donna
Anderson of Moorhead, MN; and several nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Madeline Johnson; sister,
Darlene Johnson; and niece, Shawnda Johnson.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com