Oscar William Johnson was born on March 31, 1912 to Peder Adolph and Bertha (Bagne) Johnson in Goodridge, MN. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school. His father died young and Oscar took over caring for the family and the farm. He married Eleanor Charlotte Evenson on March 31, 1943 in Thief River Falls, MN. They had four biological children and several more foster children. Oscar and Eleanor lived in Goodridge. They moved into what is now the Johnsons Riverside Boarding Home on June 15, 1948. They at first cared for foster children and the elderly. On July 22, 1967, they officially started Johnsons Boarding Home for developmentally disabled adults. The boarding home was a work of love. While operating the boarding home, Oscar also farmed, and raised dairy cows. Oscar and Eleanor were married for 46 years before she died in December of 1988. In 1990, Oscar married Verna Brown, and they continued to live on the farm.

As a young man, while working in the field one day, Oscar stopped his labor and bowed on his knees before God acknowledging his sin. He put his personal faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary. Soon after, he followed the Lord in obedience to His Word and was baptized by immersion and he went on to serve his Lord faithfully all the days of his life.

Some of the other jobs that Oscar had throughout his life included: school bus driver, cement truck driver, mailman, hauling hay, carpenter, custom bailing, and more.

Oscar was a member of the Evangelical Free Church, helped start the Falls DAC, and was a member of the Steer Missionary Group. He also enjoyed visiting with family and friends, woodworking, building yard decorations, gardening and playing many different instruments including the banjo and the harmonica.

He is survived by his wife Verna, Thief River Falls, MN; three sons: Marvin (Mary) Mikkelsen, Fridley, MN; Larry (Susan) Johnson, Owatonna, MN; Paul (Geno) Johnson, Thief River Falls, MN; eight step-children: Wayne (Sonja) Brundage, Sundre, Alberta; Judi Newcomer, Toronto, Ontario; Bunny (Bob) Goertzen, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Lorraine (Bill) McBride, Tottenham, Ontario; Grace (Leo) Thompson, Brampton, Ontario; Doug (Anna) Brundage, Toronto, Ontario; Sid (Verna) Brundage, Shelburne, Ontario; Beth (Keith) Wheeler, Thief River Falls, MN; 24 grandchildren, Tim Brundage, Bert Faulkner, Blair Faulkner, DArcy Newcomer, Candice Newcomer, Calvin Goertzen, Kerry Goertzen, Lorena Kayes, Rhonda McKnight, Daryl Goertzen, Jeff McBride, Brett McBride, Kathryn Brundage, Marianne Brundage, Beth Brundage, Tina Brundage, Alli Wheeler, Lindsay Wheeler, Brian Johnson, Sherry Blazejewski, Mandy Gallant, Melanie Johnson, Michelle Johnson and Audra Leonard;15 great grandchildren, Lindsay Brundage, Robin, Danielle, and David Faulkner, Jared Faulkner, Estelle Newcomer, Alex, Ashton and Natalie McKnight, Laurel and Dana McBride, Michelle and Megan Johnson, and Dylan and Madelyn Leonard; one brother Albert Johnson, Thief River Falls, MN; one sister Emma (Donald) Mack, Oklee, MN; and many other relative and friends.

Oscar was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Eleanor, daughter Karen Johnson, son Dean Johnson, son Jens Mikkelsen, four brothers, Johnny, Elmer, Art, Bennie; two sisters: Gladys Grovum, Julia McCoy; and step-son-in-law, Steve Newcomer.