ULLR Foundation
Memorial Gifts


    

Richard C. "Dick" Johnson 

September 13, 2020

    

-Donors-

(listed alphbetically)

            

Jan Cady

Margo Dinneen

Nancy Keyes

Mimi & Mike Moss

Jon Zoller

                  

Richard C. (Dick). Johnson
1930 - September 13, 2020 (90 years)


Johnson, Richard C. "Dick" age 90 of Edina, passed away on 9/13/20. Dick, the youngest of nine children of Hilmer H. and Alma S. (Swanson) Johnson, was raised in south Minneapolis.
   
When Dick was eleven years old, his Dad died and as a result, he started working during the summers when he was twelve.  He graduated from Roosevelt High School at the age of 17 and enrolled in the University of Minnesota.  After one year, he joined the U's National Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and became a Midshipman.  He was given a scholarship which required four years of Naval Academy-like training.  At the conclusion of 4 years, Dick was commissioned a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant.  While on active duty, he served in all of the Marine Corps Divisions, 1st in Korea, 2nd in North Carolina and 3rd in Japan.  After Dick's active duty he served in the Marine Corps Reserve at the former U.S. Naval station (Twin Cities) and he achieved the rank of Major.  Although ready, Dick was not called up for Vietnam.
   
After seven years at the University of Minnesota, Dick earned a BA, with a major of Economics and a degree of Law Juris Doctor, Phi Delta Phi.
    
Dick practiced law for over 55 years in Minnesota and Washington, D.C. and while in corporate practice served as Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel of Red Owl Stores, Inc.  He was also active in the organized bar, holding leadership positions with the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.  He served many years as a part-time Hennepin County Conciliation Court Judge and as an arbitrator of the Hennepin District Court.
    
Dick had a great interest in government and politics.  For 36 years, he was active in the Republican Party in Minnesota and Virginia.  While working in Washington, D.C., he served on the 1988 and 1992 committees of the presidential campaigns of George H.W. Bush.  He also served for many years on the Edina City Council.
    
Dick was an interested and active person and was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church, the Edina Historical Society, the Minnesota Institute of Arts, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Senior Tennis Players Club, The Skylight Club, the Smithsonian Institute, the Southdale YMCA and the ULLR Ski, Bike and Social Club.
   
Dick is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, son Craig and former wife Nancy Van Tassel Johnson.  He is survived by his daughter Leslie (Bob) of Chanhassen, his son, Kent (Stacy) of Woodbury and his grandchildren Taylor, Alyssa and  Madison. 
The family thanks the incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate hospice teams at Park Nicollet, Methodist Hospital and NC Little for treating Dick with patience, tenderness and dignity.  You all have a special gift and we are grateful you shared it with Dick and his family. 
   
A Celebration of Dick's life will be held on 10/5 at 2 pm at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina.  Masks and social distancing required.  Please register beforehand at forms.gle/… or 952.920.8515 x246.  In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the CPC's Foundation or NC Little Hospice in Edina.
     
Published in the StarTribune September 27, 2020

               


    

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