Lyle E. Johnston

Lyle E. Johnston, 97, of Cloquet, MN passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Cloquet, MN.
God, Family and Country are the three characteristics that made up Lyle's life journey and that he strongly believed in. He and his wife, Armella raised five kids and a foster daughter on the principles of the Bible.
Lyle was born in Timber Lake, SD on April 22, 1925, and moved to Proctor at 2 years old. He grew up quickly during difficult times of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. He attended school there and was drafted out of High School as soon as he turned 18 years old in 1943. He proudly served with the US Army from 1943 to 1946 and saw significant combat action as an infantry soldier on Kwajalein, Philippines, and Okinawa. He did a combat landing on mainland Japan prior to the Japanese surrender in 1945 and he tells a story of being greeted, much to his surprise, by 100s of Japanese children waving American flags. Among other awards he received the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, and his unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
Married in 1950 he started his family with his wife Armella and they eventually settled in Scanlon. He worked at Northwest Paper and later Potlatch for 35 years. He was hired by NW Paper for his baseball skills and notedly played in the fast pitch softball World Series Tournament.
Lyle was involved in the Knights of Columbus throughout his life and served in Cloquet as a 4th Degree Grand Knight. They did many projects around Cloquet to better the community and supported youth activities. Among his other accomplishments he was elected the Justice of Peace in Scanlon and led the building of the first hockey rink and basketball court there. He was a basketball, baseball, and hockey coach for many years with several of the kids later playing college and professional sports. He was a part of the VFW to include the Honor Guard in Cloquet and later in Arkansas attending many military funerals.
Dad loved his family and is survived by his sister, Ella Bishir, Hill Top Lakes TX, son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Terry Johnston, Canton, GA, daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Mike Fernjack of Cloquet, son and daughter-in-law, Lyle and Patty Johnston of Shoreview, MN, daughter-in-law, Jennifer Schulz-Johnston (Tom Johnston deceased), foster daughter Deb Melina of Oregon, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nephews and nieces who will miss him dearly.
Lyle was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Armella (Weiner); his son, Thomas Johnston and daughter Erin; parents, Lavern and Gertrude (Proctor); brothers Toby, Leslie, Robert, and Wayne.
Burial will be held at a later date in Mondovi, WI.
To watch a previously recorded version of Lyle's funeral service, please click "Open Video" under Lyle's Service information, or copy and paste the following address into your web browser:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/6fiR3JkjOSJFrpluzV2q2J5eqPC9CAceC3-LDKhfU88WOCXE240KAg1LmOZ3vP5W.GO1m_bbgyMmjKpih?startTime=1680622442000
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