Swan Curtis Johnson

Swan Curtis Johnson was born to Swedish immigrants, Signe and Swan R. Johnson. Growing up on the family farm near Quamba, MN, he was the youngest of 7 children. He and his family attended the Quamba Baptist Church, where he learned to love gospel music. He graduated from Mora High School in 1961. He joined the Navy in 1962 serving as a signalman on the USS Lake Champlain. He studied at the University of MN 1965-68. He worked in Dinkytown at Gray’s Campus Drug where he met Barbara, a waitress at the lunch counter. They were married at First Congregational Church nearly 50 yrs ago (February 1971). Always curious about a new adventure, he and Barbara enjoyed living in different parts of the country, both before and after she was ordained. They always looked for a church community to keep them grounded, and they made lifelong friends in each new place they called home. Their work took them to Chapel Hill, NC, Houston,TX, Devils Lake, ND, Willmar, MN, Grand Junction, CO, and landing back in the Twin Cities where Barbara serves at University Lutheran Church of Hope in Dinkytown.Swan was baptized in 1976 at Grace Lutheran in Raleigh, NC, the first church he and Barbara joined together. He believed in living out his faith by reaching out to those in need. He volunteered with the Humane society in North Carolina, investigating animal abuse and taking in foster dogs. In winters, he delivered coal to people’s homes. He cooked/served meals at a homeless shelter, and provided transportation for homeless men staying in churches in Colorado. He liked inviting new people to sing in church choirs, where he was often the resident joke teller, and he was known to make "suggestions" to the choir directors about his favorite hymns. He led Sunday school music, served as a Confirmation mentor and was always up for performing in various skits. A lifelong lutefisk fan, he especially loved preparing, serving and eating lutefisk, preferring it covered with a buttery white sauce and a sprinkle of allspice. Swan worked as a salesman for many years. The products he sold include vinyl record albums, hardware and drug store items, grass and packet seeds, family portraits for church directories, diamond jewelry & watches, used cars, nuts, coffee, mattresses, and dog food. He studied and worked for a time in graphic arts, dog grooming and taught OSHA safety procedures for various businesses. He concluded his working years as Safety Director at Willmar School Bus Co. In retirement he volunteered as a “Spellbinder” storyteller for 3rd and 4th graders and he was a volunteer at St Mary’s hospital in Grand Jct., CO. His most recent volunteer role was at the Health East Clinic in Maplewood, MN. Swan was a voracious reader. He loved singing, listening and making music on guitar, ukulele, harmonica, and sweet potato ocarina. He sang in a Community chorus in Devils Lake, ND, WCC Barbershop chorus in Willmar, MN, and the North Suburban Chorus in Roseville, MN. Swan and Barbara joined the Westbury Squares and enjoyed square dancing for several years in Houston, TX. Swan performed in community theater productions at Fort Totten, No.Dak (“Li’l Abner”) and in Grand Jct Co (“Phantom of the Opry”). “Mr Swanny” began clowning in No Dakota, then joined a clowning group in Willmar, making balloon animals, tossing candy and riding his tricked-out trike in small town parades. Swan was a crafter, carving diamond willow walking sticks and designing men's bracelets and necklaces to sell at craft shows. He especially enjoyed selling Swedish Rugs with his lifelong friend Alan Ostrom. Swan rode motorcycles, bicycles, recumbent bikes and trikes. He rode across No Dakota and Minnesota several times to raise funds for MS research. Swan and Barbara’s many road trips covered 48 states, 7 canadian provinces and 2 mexican border towns. Camping trips to coastal beaches, Rocky Mountains, several state and national parks usually included stopping at a lake, a river or an ocean pier to drop in a fishing line. His dream trip was with friends from Mora, MN who traveled to Sweden, where he found his mother’s family homestead. Swan was hospitalized Oct. 29 after a fall at home resulting in a severe head injury. His last song was "Happy Birthday" to Barbara on November 6th. Swan died peacefully, holding Barbara’s hand on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. His last 24 hours were filled with calls from family members who filled his ears with love and memories and tears and laughter. Swan was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert, Reuben (Bernice), Morris (Arlene), Bruce, and sister Frances. He is deeply missed by his dog-pal Misty, his wife Barbara, sister Carole Lindstrom (Norman Johnson), beloved in-laws Dolly (Don) Masterson, Randee (John) Edmundson and Bill (Emma) Wallace, 14 nephews & nieces and their families, and many other extended family and dear friends.Swan was truly blessed throughout his life with so much joy in conversations and campfires, lunches and dinners, bike rides and belly laughs and general silliness in relationships with his beloved family and friends.

Tributes

Swan Curtis Johnson

September 6, 1943 - November 16, 2020

Tributes

Swan Curtis Johnson

September 6, 1943 - November 16, 2020

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