Reynold Carl Johnson

Reynold Carl Johnson (Rey) of Yuma Arizona; formerly of Moorhead, Minnesota passed away on September 27, 2021, in his home, and surrounded by his loving family.  Rey was born on October 4, 1922, to Ida and Oscar Johnson in Fargo, North Dakota. He grew up in Moorhead, Minnesota. After graduating from High School, he served in the OSS branch of the Army during World War II. He went on to attend Dunwoody Institute of Minneapolis and worked along with his father as a home painter, before taking over the business after his father’s retirement. He met his future wife Mary Polasky at Arthur Murray dance lessons, and they were married on August 25^th, 1956, in Tappen, North Dakota.  They continued to live in Moorhead, where they had two children, Rosemary and Karl. Rey started working at Moorhead State University in the Maintenance Department during the 1970s and continued working there until his retirement.

Rey was a skilled French horn player and spent many years playing with the American Legion marching band. He loved to dance, especially square dancing. He enjoyed spending his spare time in the summer on Lake Maude where he had built a cabin as a young man. He knew all of the fishing holes and had a lot of fish stories to tell.. In his later years he traveled with his wife Mary to winter destinations of El Paso and San Antonio Texas; and Mesa and Yuma Arizona. Summers were spent in Sabin, Minnesota where he spent his time gardening and puttering. Rey loved to bake apple pies and enjoyed apple season and the many pies he would bake each year.

Rey was proceeded in death by his parents, sister Carol Godson, and son Karl Johnson. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Rosemary, brothers-in-law Alfred, Louis, Donald, and David Polasky; Sister-in-law Catherine Polasky; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 1:00 P.M., at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.