Miles Beardsley Johnson

Miles Beardsley Johnson, age 86 of Sun City West AZ and formerly of St. Peter, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at his home.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, June 21, 2010 at Union Presbyterian Church in St. Peter with Rev. Andy Davis officiating. Burial will be at Greenhill Cemetery, St. Peter. A time of fellowship will be held after the burial at the church. St. Peter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Miles was born on October 29, 1923 in Mankato MN to Floyd B. and Isabella (Phelps) Johnson. Miles was a member of the US Army Air Corps serving in over 50 combat missions over Western Europe before being honorably discharged on February 23, 1945. After the war, he attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter graduating in 1947. Miles was a member of the Gustavus football team and was chosen to an All-State College Football Team. While at Gustavus, he met his wife, Joyce Rydell and they were united in marriage on December 20, 1952. Miles continued his education, receiving several graduate degrees and at his retirement was a Professor of English at California Polytechnic State University for over 30 years. Throughout the years, Miles and Joyce collaborated on 8 books of prose and 7 books of poetry.

Grateful for having shared in his life are: his wife of 57 years Joyce; two daughters: Lynne (Pat) Rodriguez and Gloria Johnson; two granddaughters: Jennifer (Ryan) Ingram and Amy Rodriguez; three great-grandchildren: Ella, Ryder and Miles Ingram; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister: Sara Fahy, and brothers: R. Phelps Johnson and Linton Johnson.