Scott W. Johnson, 71, longtime Bricelyn resident now living in Elysian, Minnesota and Venice, Florida, died Tuesday, May 24, 2022 doing what he loved best, riding his bike on the Sakatah State Trail near Elysian. He was an organ donor and shared life-saving tissue with others prior to his cremation.  Friends are welcome to extend their condolences to the family during a visitation on Father’s Day Sunday, June 19 from 2 until 5 p.m. at Nasinec Funeral Home in Wells.  Please leave online condolences at nasinecfh.com       Memorials may be made to the local Fire and Ambulances of Bricelyn, Frost, Freeborn, Kiester, Morristown, and Elysian, Minnesota or the Venice Theater Venice, Florida

Scott Wilcox Johnson was born July 23, 1950 in Albert Lea, the only child of Kenneth A. and Ruth Miriam (Jordan) Johnson. He grew up in Bricelyn, graduated from Bricelyn High School in 1968 and attended Carleton College in Northfield for two years. Scott then worked for two years with his family’s business, the Bricelyn Telephone Company, while it updated the phone company in Morristown, moving it from crank phones and a telephone operator to a dial system. When that was complete, he returned to college and graduated from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities in 1973.

Scott married Loretta Ann Graue on February 7, 1970 at North Blue Earth Church in rural Bricelyn. They lived in Minneapolis while Scott attended the university and returned to their hometown of Bricelyn after his graduation.  The couple began working with their family’s company which grew to become Cannon Valley Communications serving the communities of Bricelyn, Frost, Freeborn and Morristown. The company later offered cable service to the above communities as well as Kiester and Dakota County, Minnesota.

Scott was active in organizations representing the telephone industry in Minnesota, especially those with rural roots similar to those of their family’s company. Scott served as director on the Minnesota Telephone Association (MTA) board and later became involved in the organizing of Midwest Wireless which offered cellular service to rural Minnesota. He also served on the board of directors of Midwest Wireless and MEANS/Onvoy as well as on the legislative committee of the MTA board. He especially enjoyed meeting with legislators on both the state and federal levels lobbying on issues affecting the telephone industry. He was a currently member of the Bahia Vista Gulf Board of Directors.

He equally enjoyed working side-by-side with his three sons who all worked during summers for their family’s telecommunication business. Son Aaron later joined the company and served as manager of its Dakota County television operation until Cannon Valley Communications was sold in 2007. At that time, it was a 104-year-old family business.

Scott continued his family’s tradition of community service. He was a member of the Bricelyn Community Club, assisting some 25 years with Bricelyn’s 4th of July community celebration as chairman of the parade as well as barbecuing chicken for which the gathering is famous. He was an Emergency Medical Technician on the Bricelyn Fire and Ambulance and served on the Bricelyn, South Central and United South Central school boards and was a Cub Scout Webelos leader. He also volunteered at various community events in Frost, Freeborn and Kiester, where he was an original investor in the Kee Civic Theater Company.

He was especially proud of the Cannon Valley Communications Foundation which he and his wife Loretta founded and which continues to financially support a wide variety of charitable organizations and events today.  Scott loved to read, travel, fish, golf, the Mankato Moondogs, concerts ranging from Jimi Hendrix to blues cruise presentations, plays at the Venice Theatre and tinkering in his shed.  His friends will remember him for his kindness, willingness to listen and reason with all, generosity, patience, benevolence and especially his humbleness. He never spoke negatively of anyone and always looked on the positive side of things.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Loretta, sons Aaron (Kris) of Prior Lake, Matt (Heidi) of Mendota Heights and Jesse (Maya) of Mahtomedi and grandchildren Jordan, Etta, Brenna, Brett and Brittyn.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ken and Miriam Johnson, grandparents Herman and Gladys Johnson, Albert and Kathryn Jordan.