Miles Marcellus "Deed" Johnson

Obituary - Long Prairie Leader - Issue May 17, 1945 page 9 col. 1
RITES CONDUCTED FOR MILES JOHNSON
Aged Little Sauk Resident is Laid to Rest Thursday.

Long Time Resident of County Died at Home of His Son.

Funeral services were conducted last Thursday afternoon at Calvary Lutheran church in Little Sauk for Miles Johnson, mention of whose death was made in The Leader last week, Rev. Neilson of Nelson, officiated and interment was made in Evergreen cemetery in this village, beside Mr. Johnson's wife, with Harry Johnson, Ralph Thompson, James Curtis, Ernest Mills, George Johnson and Philip DeLong as pallbearers.
Miles M. Johnson or "Deed" Johnson, as he was better known to a host of friends, was born Dec. 5, 1855 near Oshkosh, Wis., son of Henry and Avis Johnson. His father was killed in the Civil war in 1862, leaving his wife, three sons and a daughter. Mrs. Johnson married again and in 1880 the family moved to a farm which they purchased near Clotho.
On April 5, 1887, Mr. Johnson was married to Celia Anne Baker in Long Prairie. They started housekeeping in Little Sauk and after a year moved back to Clotho, where they made their home for the next two years. They then returned to Mr. Johnson's farm in Little Sauk, later known as the Ahlstrand farm, where they resided until 1900. Mr. Johnson then purchased a farm in Round Prairie, where they made their home for the next 30 years.
In 1930 they moved to Little Sauk, where Mr. Johnson maintained his home until his death. His health had been failing since the death of his wife a year ago. Until that time he had always been active in public affairs. He was pathmaster in Little Sauk for many years and many of the roads in that community are a tribute to his ability. Besides doing road work, he did his own farming until about 12 years ago, when he retired. He was clerk in School Dist. 40 and 116 for a munber of years and also served on the town board for some time.
Mr. Johnson loved the outdoors. Up until a few years ago, he used to bring home a deer every season and since his retirement spent much time fishing.
About seven weeks ago Mr. Johnson made a trip to Wadena to visit his daughter, Mrs. Aldrich, seriously ill in the hospital there. He returned home and the week following Easter became ill and was taken to the home of his son Claude Johnson, near Grey Eagle, where as stated he passed away on May 7.
He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Charles Aldrich of Verndale, who is ill and was unable to attend the last rites; Claude Johnson of Grey Eagle, and Lloyd Johnson of Forreston; 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. His wife preceded him in death on April 24, 1944, and two sons also preceded him. Herbert, on July 2, 1929 and Freeland, on Oct. 6, 1908.
Mr. Johnson was a member of Calvary Lutheran church of Little Sauk. The last few years he spent much time reading his bible, in which he found great comfort. He will long be remembered by many friends as a good neighbor.