I was incredibly nervous. It was about twenty minutes after I had just gone on-the-air for the first time on WFIN(AM) in Findlay, Ohio, on Saturday, August 31, 1974, at 5PM. Right after The Spanish Hour with Tony Sanchez! The studio telephone rang, and I answered it. OMG! It was Clyde Johnson, the General Manager, calling. He said to me, “Bill, you are doing great! Keep it up! You are going to work out just fine.” Words have not yet been invented that adequately express what that call meant to me. I went on to work for Clyde on and off (most of the time I was away at college) from 1974 through 1979. He was a fair minded and good man for whom to work. Yes, that says it all. He was a good man.
We remained friends into his 90s, and I was very saddened when I heard of his passing. My condolences to Betty and the entire Johnson Family. I am sorry that I could not make it to St. Cloud for Clyde’s service.
Clyde Johnson
June 9, 1929 – January 16, 2023
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Clyde W. Johnson, age 93, of Saint Cloud and Scottsdale, AZ, on Friday, February 10, 2023, 11 am, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. Rev. Brady Keller will preside. A visitation will be held one hour prior. Inurnment will follow at Assumption Cemetery Mausoleum.
Clyde was born June 9, 1929 in Iron Mountain, MI to Emil and Elsie (Olson) Johnson. He graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1947 and Brown College, Minneapolis in 1949. In 1954, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Johnson at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Duluth, MN.
Clyde enjoyed a long career in broadcasting, from announcer to General Manager, to Vice-President to consultant for stations in Findlay, OH, Fort Lauderdale, FL, St. Cloud and throughout the Midwest.
He was a former president of the acclaimed Ohio Association of Broadcasters and served on the board of the Minnesota Association of Broadcasters.
In 1984 he moved from Ohio to St. Cloud to work with Leighton Broadcasting (KCLD/KNSI).
Clyde was a community leader in both Findlay and St. Cloud, serving as United Way campaign chair and president. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce in both cities, along with Rotary and other organizations.
In 1992, at the age of 62, he left radio, and with Betty opened a full-service advertising agency in St. Cloud called The Johnson Group, which he ran successfully for several years before selling it in 1998.
Clyde was a gifted musician, avid gardener and loved his family with a passion.
He was a devoted member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud, serving as lector and chair of the finance committee. In later years, he spent winters in Scottsdale, where he served St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church as a lector.
Clyde is survived by his wife of 68 years, Betty; four children: Christine Thompson, St. Cloud, Catherine (James Elliot), Anoka, Mark, Phoenix, AZ, and Paul (Laurie), Blacksburg, VA. He is also survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Glenn and sisters, Elaine and Joyce.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Central MN Community Foundation’s Good Samaritan fund are appreciated.
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Services
Schedule Details
A Memorial of Christian Burial will take place at Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church, Saint Cloud on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 11 am.