Frank Johnson

Frank Lynn Johnson was born in Wadena, Minnesota on April 23rd, 1942, to parents Lyndon Johnson and Lois (Canton) Johnson. He passed away in St. Cloud, Minnesota on the morning of January 4th, 2026.

Frank grew up living at the back of the Henning Advocate and helped his parents with the paper. Frank and his family eventually moved to East Battle Lake where he and Neil spent a lot of time on the lake. Frank (and Neil) got crafty by creating water skis out of park benches, winning two annual boat racing competitions in Battle Lake (and not being invited back for a third), doing daredevil-like tricks on a homemade saucer by standing on a chair they placed on it, going fishing in the summer and ice-fishing in the winter, and getting up early in the morning to get the best spot on the lake for duck-hunting.

Frank attended Henning High School (1956-1960) where he was a standout athlete playing basketball and baseball. He then attended Concordia College (1960-1964) in Moorhead, MN on a full scholarship to play basketball. He studied History and Physical Education with the goal of becoming a teacher. After college, his first teaching job was at Le Sueur High School teaching History, Phys Ed, and coaching the boys’ basketball team. He was married to Susan Effertz on November 30th, 1968, and welcomed their first child, Troy, the next year. They traveled the western United States looking for a place to live and narrowed it down to two places: Aspen, Colorado or Henning, Minnesota.

Now living in Henning, Frank proposed that he and Neil build their own golf course. After lots of help and support from family and the community, Oakwood Golf Course and Supper Club opened in 1973. Some years later, Susan and Frank welcomed their children, Mitch and Debra. In 1980, Susan passed. Frank sold the business the next year and briefly returned to teaching and coaching in Henning. Frank and Roxanne were married on February 26th, 1983, and shortly after, the whole family moved to California for a year. After that year, the Johnsons moved back to Henning, Sara was born and Frank began his work in the insurance industry. Frank retired in 2013.

Frank was an avid sports fan (Vikings, Gophers, and especially the Henning Hornets), loved to garden, spent lots of time attending his grandkids’ activities, tweaking his golf swing, walleye-fishing, and more. Frank had a strong faith that played an important role in his life. He wanted people to know about Jesus and his love for us. Frank, along with others, founded Cornerstone Church in Henning. Frank was a kind and gentle father and grandfather and always had so much love for others.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Susan (Effertz) Johnson.

Frank is survived by his wife, Roxanne (Messer) Johnson (Henning, MN); children: Troy (Amy) Johnson (Minneapolis, MN), Mitch Johnson (Minneapolis, MN), Debra (Kurt) Weiland (Lakeville, MN), and Sara Johnson (Wadena, MN); grandchildren: Chloe, Maisy, and Henry Johnson  and Ava and Lucy Weiland; siblings: Neil (Sheila) Johnson (Mesa, AZ) and Lois Ann (Charlie) Kennedy (Savage, MN). 

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given in honor of Frank to the H-545 Foundation (scholarships for post secondary education). 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frank Johnson, please visit our floral store.