A memorial service for Eddie Johnson of Albert Lea will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Bonnerup Funeral Home Chapel in Albert Lea. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Interment will be at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church Cemetery in New Richland.

Eddie died on Tuesday morning, Feb. 21, 2006, at Good Samaritan Center where he received excellent care for three and a half years.

Edward R. Johnson was born in Berlin Township, Steele County, on Nov. 30, 1919, the son of Christopher A. and Ida (Sunde) Johnson. He attended rural New Richland schools, and was baptized and confirmed at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church. Edward was briefly married to Carla Thompson of Ellendale, and had a son, Donald. Edward was a veteran of World War II. He fought under General Patton in Europe and was in the O.S.S. (Office of Strategic Services). Edward was very proud to receive the Croix De Guerre Medal for gallantry from France.

After the war, Eddie lived and worked in Albert Lea. He married Naomi Steene in 1967, and worked for Weyerhauser until his retirement. He enjoyed his memberships at the American Legion Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he loved to play cards and visit with friends. He always had a wonderful sense of humor and was full of tricks. Eddie bowled on leagues in Albert Lea for many years along with his brothers. He was an avid baseball fan throughout his life and was known as a wonderful dancer. His favorite pastime in the last 27 years, however, was being a grandpa.

Eddie is survived by his stepdaughter Barbara Hebel of Rochester; a stepson Gary Steene and his wife, Dixie of Albuquerque, N.M.; three grandchildren: Regina (Jason) Folken of San Francisco, Calif., David Hebel of West Bend, Wis. and Patrick Hebel of Los Angeles, Calif. He is also survived by several sisters-in-law: Mrs. Chris (Doris) Johnson of Albert Lea, Mrs. William (Della) Johnson of Owatonna, Mrs. Raymond (Berniece) Hendrickson of New Richland, Mrs. George (Delores) Goodnature of Albert Lea and Mrs. Dave (Eileen) Goodnature of Mesa, Ariz., Marie Ferguson and her husband Kenneth of Albert Lea, Blanch Sliger and her husband Dick of Tucson, Ariz. Eddie is survived by one brother-in-law Lester Goodnature and his wife Lucille of Mesa, Ariz. He also is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Eddie was preceded in death by his wife Naomi; his son, Donald; brothers: Reuben, at birth and other brothers: Sidney, Reuben, William, Gordon, Charles, Vince and Chris Johnson; a sister Eleanor Berg; sisters-in-law Mrs. Reuben (Rose) Johnson, Mrs. Sidney (Elise) Johnson, Mrs. Fred (Elsie) Peterson, Mrs. Vince (Maxine) Johnson; and brothers-in-law: George Berg, George Goodnature, Vince Goodnature and Dave Goodnature.