Biography

Melvin Johnson, a man who could build anything by day and dance all night, died February 18, 2010 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND after suffering a fourth stroke. He was 87.

He was born April 27, 1922 in Euclid, MN to Harvey and Barbara Johnson. He grew up on their farm during the Great Depression, which shaped his personality. He had a strong tendency for self-sufficiency. In addition to his daily work on the family farm, he made many things. He started building things at age three. As a small child, for birthday presents, he would get a pound of nails and a bundle of lathes. He collected fruit boxes made of wood for lumber and cut up tin cans to get sheet metal. At age eight, he made a three foot long working thresher and hay rack out of that lumber and tin. At about 16 years, he wanted to learn to weld, so he built an arc welder from an old car starter. For power, he built a 50 ft tall wind charger, first version made by rewinding a Model T Ford generator. He wanted a metal turning lathe "so bad", he spent the evenings of a whole winter building such a lathe, drilling and cutting by hand until the lathe could do it itself. As he would lovingly point out to just about anyone who would listen that "A lathe is the only machine that can reproduce itself."

At that time, a formal education was luxury. Though he loved learning, he could only attend country school until the 8th grade.

At age 21 he was hired as machinist for American Iron Works. After eight years, the company moved to Minneapolis. Melvin stayed in the area and founded his own company, Johnson Iron and Machine in East Grand Forks. At its peak, the company employed more than twenty people. One item Johnson Iron and Machine manufactured was the rear double tractor wheels for John Deere. The double wheel was his design.

Melvin built two houses himself. The first one, he built at age 24. This house was "in town", though, at that time, there were no other houses around his. For his second home, which was 10 times the size of the old, he relied heavily on the machines (and friends) he made. He modified a truck to haul the logs from trees he cut down. He made the lumber with the sawmill he made. He planed the boards with the four-sided planer he made. The shingles for the roof were made with a shingle mill he made. He moved and planted the trees with a tree spade he made. There were many, many more machines of his making involved.

He built hundreds of machines. He built a press that could punch 80 tons 30 times a minute. Two decade later he built second one that could punch 100 tons He was proudest of his sheer, which took 20,000 lbs of steel and about 2000 hours to build. His inventions were not limited to industry. He built electric organs, flower mills, a printing press, photo enlarger, and even made dresses for June. He always said his proudest "finished products" were his two kids.

Melvin worked hard, hated debt and never invested in the stock market. He paid off his last loan in 1982.

He had a passion for very old Ford automobiles. He restored several model T Fords and a model A. He was the founder and president of the North Dakota AACA car club chapter. He was the president and a founder of the Northwest MN model T club. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church of East Grand Forks, MN and a member of the American Legion Club #157 of East Grand Forks, MN. He helped grow the Heritage Days Festival in East Grand Forks where he always had a working machine on display.

In 1946, he married Irene (Berndt) Johnson the marriage ended after 24 years when Irene died of cancer. Before she died, Melvin tended Irene for months, often with very little sleep. He loved her and always missed her. Two years later, in 1972, he married June (Gregoire) Johnson. After 36 years of marriage, June also died of cancer. The greatest blow to his health came with June's Death.

He is survived by his brother Donald Johnson and wife Betty of East Grand Forks, daughter Amanda (Johnson) Thralow and husband, Daniel of Naples, FL, son, Fajen Kyne and wife, Adria of Boston MA, grandchildren, Freeman Kyne 5, Daisy Thralow 5, and Ginger Thralow 3, and 15 nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters; Ruth, Anna and Violet. Just as important, as much as he is survived by family, he is survived by dear friends. He loved being with you.

Funeral Service

Tuesday February 23, 2010, 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
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Visitation

Tuesday February 23, 2010, From 10 to 11 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
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With Burial in the Spring