Lawrence Henry Johnson, 89, bus driver, craftsman, gardener, and a lifelong Rush City resident, died June 29, 2006 at his home in Rush City, Minn. He went home to be with the Lord while asleep.

Lawrence was born Dec. 16, 1916 in Sunrise, Minn. There, he was also baptized. At the age of eight, he and his family moved to a farm in the Rush City area, where he spent most of his childhood.

He attended Sunday school and was confirmed in the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City, where he later would serve two-three year terms on the church council and for several years do their custodial work.

Lawrence knew of Lucille Swanson well before they were married but their courtship began in 1941 at a dance hall in Pine City. They were united in marriage on May 16, 1942. To this union, four sons were born, Richard, Ronald, Robert and Randy.

Both Lawrence and Lucille loved to dance. They were Rush Cityís own Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

In 1946, Lawrence and Lucille left the farm with their first two born sons and Lawrence went to work for Maple Island Inc. as a milk drier operator and truck driver. He became a school bus driver for Rush City schools in 1947 and hauled thousands of kids before retiring from that in 1991.

In the meantime, Lawrence also worked for McKay Oil Co. as a truck driver and mechanic for 14 years. He worked at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant from 1966-1970. He also worked for Schneider Chevrolet and Buick for eight years.

He was very much a man of routine, avidly walking his
dog, Beau, and reading the Star Tribune each morning. He loved cars and was a professed Ford man. He also loved to travel and took his dream vacation to the Holy Lands in the 80s.

In the summer, Lawrence loved to garden. In his spare winter time, he would build doll houses and, over time, crafted one for each of his granddaughters.

Lawrence is survived by sons: Richard and wife Sharee of Elk River, Ronald and wife Jayne of Terry, Mont., Robert and wife Dorothy of Braham, and Randy and wife Wendy of Pine City; 10 grandchildren, Chris (Sharon) Johnson, Alisa Johnson, Brandy (Richard) McAniff, Melissa (Barry) Ehlert, Rebecca (Jay) Walters, Tanya Johnson (Reiner) Prado, Jay (Molly) Johnson, Nathan, Natalie and Nicholas Johnson; 11 great-grandchildren; brother Harley (Maydean),
Pine City and sister Ione Whiting of Sauk Center.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Florence (Anderson) Johnson; sister Irene (Jerome) Peters and beloved wife of 58 years, and best friend, Lucille Johnson.

Rev. Laurie OíShea officiated at funeral services Monday, July 3, 2006 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush City with music provided by organist Doris Swanson, pianist Rev. Laurie OíShea, vocalists Jay Walters and Sharri Van Alstine. Casket bearers included grandchildren Nathan, Nick, Chris Johnson and Jay Walters, Bob Swanson and Gary Mortenson with the interment in the First Lutheran Cemetery at Rush City. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City, MN. ìOlson Chapelî.

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