Mr. Earl Johnson
Earl Roger Johnson was born on November 15, 1923
in Lindsborg, Kansas. The Johnson family lived in Lindsborg
for three
years before moving to McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Earl was the son of Linus and Clancy
Johnson. Earl has two sisters: Beulah and Marion and one brother,
George. George was born, September 9, 1921. Linus Johnson was a young pastor that had just graduated form
Bethel Academy and Theological Seminary, now known as Bethel College and
Seminary. One weekend in December 1928, pastor and Clancy went out to
dinner before pastor had to make a trip to Chicago. After pastor left for
Chicago, Clancy became ill and died on December 16, 1928.
Some time later by unanimous vote of the family, pastor Johnson
married Ruth Oden a nurse who worked at McKeesport General Hospital.
Ruth left her job to take up the task of mother and 
pastors wife.
Pastor Johnson and Ruth were married in the Oden family home. Soon after, Linus and Ruth and the
family moved to Stromsburg, Nebraska. Stromsburg was a small farming
community. Earl says; "Small towns are great! I spent a lot
of time walking to the town-square, the park with its frozen pond in the
winter, and the railroad station was always an interesting place with steam
engines puffing to and fro. We made quite a few visits to the farms
around Stromsburg. It was a real educational experience for a city lad
to learn about the cows and pigs and especially the horses that we were able
to ride on occasion. We were only there a couple of years when dad got a
call to pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Duluth, Minnesota, in
1932."
In Duluth, Earl attended Denfeld High School where Temple
Church had a great "Boy Scout" program. Earl learned out door skills on various camping trips,
both summer and winter, with the Scouts. One over night outing was to
Larsmont, Minnesota on Lake Superior. This was a fishing village and in
the winter the fishermen cut large holes in the ice to enable them access the
water to fish. Earl's brother George, tested the ice in one of the holes
and fell in the icy water. A friend and fellow scout, Rudy Forsman
grabbed a tree branch and fished George out. Rudy later became a Baptist
General Conference
pastor. Dr. Johnson's ministry was quite successful and usually once a
year had evangelistic meetings. At one of these meetings with
evangelistic Harry McCormick Lintz, Earl felt the need to commit his life to
Christ. Soon after Earl was baptized.
In 1939, Dr. Johnson was called to Portland, Oregon, to
pastor at Temple Baptist Church. Earl Johnson was received
into the church membership on September 5, 1939 by letter. Earl
spent his junior and senior year at Grant High School. Earl spent a lot
of time at the Northeast YMCA enjoying the work and activities there.
While working at the YMCA, Earl made some contacts with some professional
mountain climbers from the Mazama Club. When Earl graduated from Grant
High, they had the graduation ceremony at the Civic Auditorium. Right
after the ceremony, the Mazama's took Earl and a group from the "Y"
up to climb Mt. Hood. Earl said he will never forget the breathtaking view from the
top of Hood.
The same year Earl enrolled at Bethel College in St.
Paul. That summer he spent two months at Camp Meehan, the YMCA camp at
Spirit Lake, Washington. Earl was a counselor for junior high
boys. He got to know Harry Truman, who ran the resort next door.
Before the camp season began they were making repairs to the boat dock.
Harry came over and offered to help with the repairs if we would promise to
keep the campers off his property when the camp schedule began. As you
probably know, Harry Truman stayed with his lodge when Mt. St. Helens blew its
top and lava and ash buried the lodge.
When he first came to Temple, Earl made a good friend
of David Carlson. Dave's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Carlson
(Anna), were the custodians at church. They lived up on the
second floor at the rear of the church in the custodians quarters. Dave called his room, "The
House of David." Dave Carlson also was going to attend Bethel that
fall. In 1941, Earl and Dave got on the
Northern Pacific train together
and headed for St.
Paul. On December 8, 1941, they learned that the Japanese had bombed
Pearl Harbor. In the fall of 1942, when they just started their
sophomore year, they both decided to go into the service of their country. They figured
they would be drafted if they didn't. Dave had signed up in the Navy and
Earl went in the Merchant Marines. Earl then headed for Great Neck, New
York to Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy. During training, Earl
spent a week on the Square Rigged Sailing Ship "Nantucket".
The captain on the ship had his nose blown off in World War I and the crew referred
to him as Captain Blye. Earl did not see David until years later when
the ships they were on happen to dock in the same port of Charleston, South
Carolina. (Click Here to see
the Honor Roll of Temple Baptist Church personal who served in the
military during WW II.)
Returning to Portland in the fall of 1946. Earl attended
Multnomah College and worked part-time at a few places. Earl then
attended University of Oregon. The graduation ceremony was held in Eugene and
Earl was accompanied to the ceremony by his girl friend, Pearl Hanson 
and his mother
Ruth. Pearl had just graduated from Jefferson High and went on to Lewis
and Clark College and Earl continued to work for a couple of years. Earl
and Pearl were married at Temple on March 17, 1951. Pearl was the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Hanson (Myrtle) who were long time members of
Temple. Dr. Johnson performed the ceremony. During their marriage
they had 4 boys: Merle Linus, Craig, Mark David and Tim. Merle joined
the Navy before going to Bethel College and Craig and Mark went to Bethel
right after high school. Tim attended Portland State for one year before
going to Bethel.
While working at Rudie Wilhelm, Earl ran into Mr. Lanier
Brugh who offered Earl a job as office manager. Mr. Brugh ran a trucking
company that specialized in delivering US Mail under contract. Earl left
Wilhelm and went to work for Brugh Trucking. Earl ended up working 25
years for Brugh. After leaving Brugh Trucking Company, Earl has been in
the Real Estate business in Northeast Portland. Earl and Pearl are long
time members of Temple and dearly love their Lord and Savior and are one of
the sweetest couples that I have had the pleasure of
knowing.
Earl and Pearl celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on
March 17, 2001.
Testimony of the Johnson's Faith
Our testimony can be captioned in these favorite Hymns Of The Church. These hymns are not only great worship songs but they have a great message and unquestionable theology.
"Day by Day and with each passing
moment" (we have learned to say) "Trust and Obey, for there is no
other way" (but to rely upon) "The Wonderful Grace of Jesus"
(and be reminded) "Through it all, we've learned to trust in Jesus"
(and become like) "Children of the Heavenly Father" (and ask)
"Precious Lord, take my hand" (and be reminded) "All the way my
Savior leads me" (and say) "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound"
(and sing).............
Thanks to God for my Redeemer,-----------Thanks for all thou dost
provide,
Thanks for times now but a memory,--------Thanks for Jesus by my side,
Thanks for pleasant balmy springtime,-------Thanks for dark and dreary fall,
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,----------Thanks for peace within my soul,
Thanks for Roses by the wayside,-----------Thanks for thorns their stems
contain,
Thanks for homes and thanks for firesides,---Thanks for hope that sweet
refrain,
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,-------Thanks for heavenly peace with
thee,
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,----------- Thanks for all eternity.
Words by August Storm, 1891
The text and photos for this account was taken from the memoirs of
Earl Johnson, with permission.
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