Johnny E. Thoen

John E. “Johnny” Thoen, age 86, of Alexandria, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Bethany on the Lake in Alexandria.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024, at New Testament Church in Alexandria, with Pastor Pete Reishus officiating. Interment will take place at Reno Mission Cemetery near Lowry.

A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

John Edward was born on September 13, 1937, to Oscar and Annie Thoen on the family farm near Farwell, Minnesota, where he grew up. He attended District 27 one-room school through 8th grade and helped his dad run the farm. As a young adult, he moved to Minneapolis to live with his brother and sister-in-law and worked at Kaiser Electric. However, being a farm boy, he didn’t enjoy city life and often said he lived in the cities “just long enough to get his wife.” While living there, he met Juanita Cutsforth, fell in love, and they were married six months later on June 9, 1962.

They moved back to the family farm, where Johnny took over for his dad and started their family. He loved farming and was grateful to raise his four kids on the farm. He regularly traded work with neighbors, uncles, and cousins, and was proud to have them over for “morning or afternoon lunch,” or even a home-cooked noon meal. Along with farming, Johnny worked seasonally at Douglas Machine Corporation in Alexandria, MN. He was always happiest when spring came, allowing him to farm full-time again.

After many years, he rented out most of his land and began working as co-owner of Douglas Industrial Parts Company, later West Central Bearing, where he enjoyed meeting customers and developing relationships and working alongside his son, Tom. Aside from farming, Johnny loved walking around the land, enjoying nature, and keeping an eye on his favorite spots. He always had a dog following him, along with several cats—many of whom he would “quote.” He enjoyed tinkering in his shop, always inventing, improving, or fixing something with his creative, mechanical mind.

One of his favorite pastimes was camping. He initiated many camp-outs with his family, both on the farm and in Swift Falls, MN, and took several trips out to Wyoming with Juanita, sometimes bringing grandkids along. He enjoyed a good visit and often made friends with strangers while on a camping trip or just out for a drive.

Johnny and Juanita continued to live on the farm until 2017. When Juanita died in 2019, Johnny’s greatest desire was to join her. He finally got his wish on August 17, 2024. He had a deep faith in God and spent his life serving Him. He was really looking forward to Heaven.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Juanita, in 2019; sister, Marian Engstrom; and brother, Bud Thoen. 

Johnny is survived by his four children, Tammy (Jack) Zitzmann of Brandon, Tom (Tara) Thoen of Fort Collins, Colorado, Susie (Dan Wood) Thoen of Alexandria, and Steve (Stephanie) Thoen of Glenwood; 12 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.