Johnson, James Edgar
March 26, 1927 – October 11, 2019
Age 92 of Arden Hills.Death came for James Edgar Johnson in the early hours of October 11th. Born March 26, 1927 in Johnson City, NY, Jim was the 6th child of Willis Benjamin Johnson and Marguerite Chase. Two more siblings would come later. He joined the Navy in 1945, and thanks to the GI Bill became the first in his family to go to college. He married a war widow, Louella Kathryn Float Kuhn in 1948, and with her support earned an MA from the University of Buffalo and PhD from Syracuse University. Jim spent most of his career at Bethel College (later Bethel University), teaching American social, religious, and economic history and publishing on the history of American Evangelical movements. He loved music, fishing, and debating about politics. Predeceased by his seven siblings and his beloved wife, Jim is survived by his son Richard Johnson of Honolulu, HI; daughter Kathleen Lou Stephenson-Kuhn of Portland, OR; two granddaughters, four great-grand children, and some of the dearest friends a person could have. We miss his irascible charm already. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, November 9th at 2 pm at the Fellowship Hall at the Johanna Shores Presbyterian Home (3200 Lake Johanna Blvd). In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Habitat for Humanity in Jim’s honor. (Published in the Star Tribune November 5, 2019)