Philip M Johnston

Philip Murray Johnston, age 85, Red Wing, MN, died of cancer Sunday, May 12, 2013, in Featherstone Township. He was born August 10, 1927, to Philip and Daisy (Murray) Johnston in Wall, South Dakota. He moved with his family to Rapid City, SD and then, for his senior year in high school, to Mapleton, MN. He graduated from Mapleton High School in 1945. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Marine Corp. After military service, he became a journeyman sheet metal worker. He attended South Dakota State University and Mankato State College. After receiving his Bachelors in Science degree, he taught in West Concord where he met his future wife Miriam. While serving in a variety of administrative and instructional roles at the Austin Area Vocational School, he authored several books on sheet metal work. He obtained his Master's degree in 1964 in counseling and served as counselor at the Goodhue-Wanamingo Public Schools, retiring in 1992.He and Miriam Pearson were married at the Vasa Lutheran Church on June 12, 1954. They bought a farm in Featherstone Township in 1969 and moved from Austin, MN to the Red Wing, MN area. Phil was very active at the Vasa Lutheran Church for many years, teaching Sunday school and confirmation classes as well as serving on various church boards. He also served as treasurer of the church. He is currently a member of the New River Assemblies of God Church in Red Wing.His passion in retirement was distributing God’s Word. As a member of Gideon International, he bought New Testaments by the case and usually gave out multiple copies every day. It made no difference if he was at a truck stop or the Mayo Clinic; he gave everyone a chance to receive their own copy of God’s Word. A copy of the New Testaments he handed out will be offered to everyone at his memorial as a special reminder of who he was.Philip lived the Spiritual Gift of Helps building driveways and giving to those in financial distress. He drove people to medical appointments, visited those in jail, sat with the dying, entertained the lonely, and consoled the hurting. He gave the most precious gift he could, himself. Seeing all as children of His Father, he built a huge spiritual family of “sons and daughters” with his wife Miriam always at his side.He was preceded in death by parents Philip and Daisy Johnston, by wife Miriam (who died on May 8, 2013), by brothers George and Burt (and wife Pat) Johnston, by nephew Michael Johnston, and by niece Carolyn Johnston. He is survived by a brother Frank and wife Barbara Johnston of Kingston, NY, by sister-in-law Doris Johnston of La Crosse, WI. He is also survived by nephews and nieces: Nancy Reasor of Eagle Lake; Kathryn Steiner of Mankato; Ben Johnston of Mankato; Mark Johnston of La Crosse, WI; and Sarah Aldinger. He is survived by grand nieces and nephews: Zachary Steiner of Minneapolis; Bret and Jared Steiner of Mankato; Hailey Johnston of Eagle Lake; Tyler Johnston of Mankato; and Aiden Aldinger.He is also survived by bothers-in-law Emmett (Rosann) of Welch, Wesley (Rae) of Northfield, Merle (Rita) of Red Wing, Curtis (Glennis) of Rochester.A joint memorial service for Miriam and Phillip Johnston is planned for 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, at the Assembly of God Church in Red Wing with Pastors Johnson and Dobbins officiating. Burial was at the Vasa Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Wise Funeral Home of Hastings. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the Gideons.