EDWARD “RUG” D. JOHNSON

      Edward “Rug” David Johnson, (Indian name, “Aya-Baase”, Little Buck), 62, of Redby, Minnesota died, Monday, April 12, 2004 at the Jourdain/Perpich Extended Care Facility at Red Lake, Minnesota.

       Arrangements are with Cease Family Funeral Home of Blackduck

       Funeral Services will be 2:00 P.M., Friday, April 16, 2004, at St. Antipas Episcopal Church in Redby, Minnesota. A wake will begin Wednesday afternoon at the Redby Community Center in Redby, Minnesota and will continue until the time of the services. Interment will be at the St. Antipas Episcopal Cemetery in Redby, Minnesota.

       Honorary Casketbearers will be Pete Strong, Joe R. Johnson, Pat Brown, Clarence Brown, Donald “Buckwheat” Graves, Joe Holenday, Tom Wilson, Jr., Tom Wilson, Sr., Mike Cobenais, Joe Bay Strong and Opi DeFoe.

       Active Casketbearers will be Ira Johnson, Charles Johnson, Dwight Johnson, Jeff Roy, Mel Owens, Patrick Owens, Gerald Kingbird, and Carl White.

       He was born on October 4, 1941 at Red Lake, Minnesota, the son of Frank D. & Lucille (Holenday) Johnson. He was raised in Redby and attended school in Red Lake. He worked as a cement block layer for the housing programs in Red Lake for many years. He did Janitorial work for Comprehensive Health Services in Red Lake until 1989 when he couldn’t work because of a back injury. He had done some concrete contracting with Paul Prentice for several years, until 1994. He married Linda Kingbird in October of 1978 in Redby, Minnesota. He started having health problems in 1999 and was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2003. He was of the Bear Clan. He was a member of the Eagles Club and the Moose Lodge in Bemidji, Minnesota. He was a member of St. Antipas Episcopal Church in Redby. He liked to play the guitar and was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed cooking, beadwork, attending Pow Wows, going for walks, and having a cold beer.

       He is survived by his wife, Linda of Redby; one daughter, Tracy Kingbird of Redby; 5 grandchildren, Tycell Kingbird, Phylicia Kingbird, Adrienne Kingbird, Shyanne Kingbird, and Stephen White all of Redby; 5 sisters, Elaine Johnson, Yvonne Johnson, Darlene Johnson, Charlotte Johnson, and Margaret White all of Redby; 1 brother, Joe Johnson; adopted mother and special aunt, Ennis Johnson of Redby.

       He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Renee; a brother, Arnold; and Grandparents, Jack & Louisa (Buckanaga) Johnson and Ed & Lucy (Strong) Holenday.