William R, Johnson, Sr.

William R. Johnson, Sr., 84 year old resident of Randall, MN, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at his residence. A Memorial Service will be held at 10 AM on Friday, June 20, 2025 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Randall, MN, with Pastor Joe Crosswhite officiating. Afterwards, everyone will gather downstairs at the church for a potluck meal. Caring for William and his family is LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls, MN. William Richard Johnson was born on July 8, 1940 in Little Falls, MN, to the late John E. and Mildred (Olson) Johnson. William graduated High School and learned to be a mechanic at trade school. He married Patricia Ann Schmidt on July 22, 1961 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Randall. Together, they started Johnson’s Garage and Towing in Randall, with Patricia working the office and William, Sr. handling all the other duties. William, Sr. was a tinkerer and inventor, making a lot of his own tools, such as a bench tool that would hold a transmission and rotate it to work on. He also made his own mobile log splitter, a snowblower that fit on his skid steer, built engines and sheds on the family farm. William Sr. and Patricia enjoyed traveling and several times took the train out west to Yakima, WA to visit his brothers. One of William, Sr.’s passions was music, which he acquired from his father, John, who played banjo with Lawrence Welk. William, Sr. played guitar as well as fixed them, and he and his bands played numerous local and regional venues. William Sr. was inducted into the Minnesota Country Music Hall of Fame this year in 2025. William Sr. is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann; sons, William R. Jr. (Cassandra) of Wyoming, and Patrick William (Tamara) Johnson of Wisconsin; grandchildren, Trevor Patrick Johnson and Hailey Nicole (Andrew) Wasmond; great-grandson, Crew Jackson Wasmond; brothers, Jerry (Margo) and Phillip (Patricia) Johnson, both of Yakima, WA; sister-in-law, Dorothy Johnson of Yakima; many nieces and nephews; and very good friend, Terry Schwanke. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mildred Johnson; brothers, John, Jr. (Sybil) and Larry Johnson; and sister, Arlis (Wayne) Wilson.

Tributes

William R, Johnson, Sr.

July 8, 1940 - June 12, 2025