Dwaine Chester Johnson

Dwaine C. Johnson, 87 of Alexandria, passed away at his home at Bethany on the Lake on June 12, 2025. A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria from 4:00 - 5:00 PM, with a celebration of life beginning at 5:00 PM. A light funeral luncheon will be served following the service. Private family burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Alexandria the following day.

He was born December 1, 1937 in Miltona, Minnesota to Chester and Clara Johnson. His family lived in Miltona through his high school years. Dwaine graduated from Alexandria High School in 1955, and took a year off to drive truck for 7UP. He waited for his cousin Neil to graduate, so they could both attend the University of Minnesota together in 1956. He graduated from the U of M in 1960 with a degree in Accounting, and later on passed the CPA exam.

In 1960, Dwaine married Sharon Thostenson, and the couple welcomed three children together. They raised their family in the Twin Cities, and lived there until the early 2000’s.

Dwaine enjoyed a long career in public accounting starting in 1960 with Anderson/Helgeson, and then wanted to learn the construction industry (accounting/estimating) and worked a few years for CS McCrossan and NW Asphalt.

Dwaine's long-term dream was to be a Partner in a CPA firm, and during the early 1970s he helped form the firm Pierce/Johnson, later it became Johnson/Nelson, and eventually Johnson & Co, Ltd.

In December 1987, Dwaine merged his firm into Pannell/Kerr/Forster (a national firm). On December 1, 1989 he longed for his own firm again and re-started Johnson and Company. That firm is still operating today with four partners that he mentored.

In 1980, Dwaine was very excited and proud to be able to buy a cabin in the Alexandria area, where he vacationed with his family and visited with his parents and brother often. He also enjoyed decades of membership at Alexandria Golf Club, where he reconnected with many childhood friends and met golfers who became good friends that participated in “board meetings” at various area restaurants over the years.

Dwaine is survived by children: Teri (Corky) Gleason, Tom (Brenda) Johnson, Jill (John) Amundson and ex-wife Sharon Johnson; grandchildren Joey Polzin (KatieLynn), Matthew (Hannah) Polzin, Aaron (Kaylee) Polzin, Mallory (Tony) Des Marais, McKenzie Johnson, Madalyn Johnson, Mitchell Johnson, Keaton Amundson, Avery Amundson; great-grandchildren Mason, Margaux and Maiya Des Marais, Asher Johnson Malinski, Levi Polzin; along with many other very special relatives and special friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Clara Johnson; brothers: Donald Johnson, Ronald Johnson; sister-in-law, Esther Johnson; and great-grandson Daxton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made payable to Tom Johnson. His children will be awarding a scholarship in Dwaine Johnson's name to a graduating senior (2026) of Alexandria High School that is pursuing secondary education.

Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of arrangements for Dwaine.