Richard Johnston

Richard "Rick" Johnston, age 69, of Randolph, MN and formerly of Elysian, died on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at the Minneapolis VA Hospital.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville with Pastor Larry Griffin officiating. Interment will be held at St. John's Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Iosco Township. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post 311 in Elysian.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2015 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville and for one hour prior to services at the church on Sunday.

Memorials are preferred to the DAV, American Legion Post 311, Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville, or St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Randolph, MN.

Richard Arthur, son of Robert and Joyce (Mauterstock) Johnston, was born on July 3, 1946 in Montclair, New Jersey. He attended and graduated from West Caldwell High School in New Jersey. Following his schooling, he joined the United States Air Force. He served in Thailand and Vietnam before being honorably discharged in November 1971. He worked at various jobs throughout his life including OTC in Owatonna, Ron Taylor Garage in Elysian, International Harvester Company in Mankato, Lindsay Bros in Mankato, was the owner of Trading Post Sports in Elysian, worked at Hiniker Co. in Mankato and Ken's Clean Aquariums. He was also a policeman for the city of Elysian, served on the city council, was a volunteer fireman and EMT, and an NRA Firearms Safety Instructor. He was a member of American Legion Post 311 in Elysian, the DAV, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Dakota Territory Gun Collectors, Assn. He was united in marriage to Alma Cords on December 2, 1967 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. They lived in Las Vegas, while he was stationed there. They then moved to Elysian in 1970 to raise their family. He enjoyed fishing, wood turning, dog sledding, motorcycles, boating, traveling, and going to gun shows, rendezvous, and train shows.

Richard is survived by his wife, Alma Johnston of Randolph, MN; daughters, Ruth (Ken) Exner of Omaha, NE, Roberta Johnston of Minneapolis and her children, Natasha and Tayler, and Rhonda (Bill) Richer of Winthrop; sister, Cynthia Burger of Southbury, CT; nephews, Chris Evans, Cameron Evans, and Ari Burger; niece, Alizah Burger; many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.