Reverend Stanley M. Johnson, 85, of Owatonna, died Thursday, January 14, 2010 at Cedarview Care Center. Stanley was born February 13, 1924 in Forada, Minnesota the son of Elmer and Mildred (Westerfield) Johnson. His father died when Stanley was 5 years old. After that Stan, his mother, and his younger sister moved in with Grandma Westerfield on a little farm and resort at Forada. When Stan was 12, his mother remarried and moved to Alexandria. Stan and his Grandma ran the resort and did some subsistence farming. Stan attended school for 1 year in Forada and had the rest of his elementary schooling and high school in Alexandria where he graduated in 1942. At that time he enlisted in the United States Navy and spent the years of WWII as a submarine diesel mechanic on Pearl Harbor and Guam. After the war, Stanley enrolled at Macalester College from which he graduated in 1950. He was united in marriage to Portia Johanson in June of 1950. They spent 3 years in Chicago where Stan attended McCormick Theological Seminary, graduating in 1953 with his Bachelor of Divinity degree and earning the annual Preaching Prize. He earned his Master of Theology from Dubuque Seminary in the 60''s. Stan was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in Kasota in 1953 and subsequently was pastor to churches in Kasota from 1953 until 1959, Crookston from 1959 until 1970 and in Owatonna at The Associated Church, all in Minnesota. He retired from the pastoral ministry in 1989 and was appointed Minister Emeritus of the Associated Church of Owatonna. In Crookston he was instrumental in securing a grant that was first in the nation for a migrant school. He was also active in AA work. He always enjoyed the youth of the church and took them on many camping trips. After Stan retired, he held part-time jobs in the fields of youth and alcohol rehabilitation, and did "Fifth Step" work, among other things. Stan's hobbies would be outdoor things; chopping wood for his wood-burning stove, making things, camping with the family, working on his car and fixing things. He is survived by his wife Portia Johnson of Owatonna; three sons, Daniel (and Ruth) Johnson of Fridley; Lowell Johnson of Owatonna; Matthew (and Karin) Johnson of Lund, Sweden; two daughters, Allison (and Igal) Vainshtein of Northfield; Andrea (and Brian) Johnson of Owatonna; sister, Lucille Miller of Minneapolis; step-sister, LaNelle Brackman in California; eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, five step-sisters and two step-brothers. Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Sunday, January 17, 2010 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and one hour prior to the service in the church. Memorial services will be held Monday, January 18, 2010 at 12:00 PM at The Associated Church with Dr. Ronald D. Wilson officiating. Memorials are preferred to The Associated Church. Visitation: 01/17/2010 16:00 01/17/2010 19:00 Service: and one hour prior to the service in the church 01/18/2010 12:00