Buster Johnson, 86

September 3, 1939 -

March 17, 2026

 

Buster Johnson (Waldemar Edward) was born on September 3, 1939 and left this world on March 17, 2026~ maybe because heaven needed his wonderful, infectious laugh and the light of such a beautiful spirit.

He was the son of Allen and Eunice (Hall) Johnson and grew up in a lively household which included not only his brothers and sisters, Nina Stockdale, Joyce Miller, Jerry, Phyllis Dietrich, James ("Chick") and Joe but also his Johnson grandparents and his Uncle Edward. Quite a few of them have already gotten a head start on welcoming him on the other side including his parents, several siblings, in-laws and loved ones---we're confident that, as any Johnson family reunion is, it was loud, opinionated and well attended.

In 1972 he met Annette Hugi, his most cherished and adored love. In 1974 they married and, with his 3 boys, Scott, Jay and Rusty, they started their lives together. Joshua and Luke were soon added to the crew and they built a life on a small farm south of Spring Valley. There, Buster did what he did best and what he loved: worked hard for his family, raised animals, farmed land, "fixed" (jerry-rigged) things and built lean-to's onto every building he could.

In February of 2026 Buster and Annette celebrated 52 years of marriage- -a journey shaped by overcoming the tough times, a busy home filled with boys and countless moments that required patience, laughter, love and enduring respect for one another. A love story for the ages.

Buster went to school in Spring Valley with the class of 1958 but took a short detour when he discovered working was more his style than the classroom. He worked for and lived with Bob and Marge Hahn in Preston who became his very dear second family and he graduated from Preston High School in 1959. That same year he proved he was tougher than he looked by becoming a Minnesota State Wrestling Champ at 112 pounds--small but mighty, a theme that carried through his life. He always considered Doug, Randy, Gary, Rob, Mary and Tom Hahn his siblings and they called him "the oldest brother".

He was always self motivated and able to identify opportunities, at age 10 Buster had a Grit Paper route; at 11 he began working at the Foodliner Grocery in Spring Valley.  He was so short he had to stand on 2 pop cases to see over the meat counter- -an early sign that meat cutting was his calling. He spent years with Red Owl and Super Valu as a meat department manager before buying the Foodliner in 1968 and proudly renaming it Buster's AG Food Store (at the time there were 6 grocery stores in Spring Valley). Eventually his entrepreneurial mindset led him to build Buster's Custom Meats and Processing right on the farm in 1979. During the farm crisis of the 1980's Buster proved that creativity and stubborn determination go a long way as he expanded into catering and renamed the business Buster's Country Meats and Catering.

He was a strong supporter of the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors (MAMP) serving on the board for 12 years, 2 as VP and then 2 as President in 2004 and 2005. He and Annette were honored by MAMP for their achievements in the meat industry in 2012.

When his wife and children hosted "Buster’s Bash" in 2011 to celebrate more than 6 decades in the meat and grocery business, over 600 people showed up. The crowd was proof of what everyone already knew: Buster had touched countless lives, lent a helping hand wherever he could, and kept a lot of folks well fed. He retired shortly thereafter at 71, though slowing down was never really his style.

Buster served on the fire departments in Eldora, Iowa, Spring Valley and Ostrander, and was an EMT and first responder in the 1970’s because, apparently, one demanding career wasn't enough. He gave generously to many fund raisers and causes including the   Fire Department, the VFW Auxiliary, the Historical Society, the Food Shelf and volunteered wherever help was needed. He was deeply involved with high school FFA Meats Teams and partnered with the Mayo Clinic's anesthesia and transplant departments providing animal parts for science and research.

A proud and involved member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ostrander since 1976, Buster served on the Church Council many times, including as president. The church community was always important to him, he was very much present and eager to serve, he happily cooked for church fundraisers and ice cream socials.  However, even with his love of children, after a brief foray into teaching Sunday School he knew his talents lay elsewhere (the kids still really liked him a lot).

He had adventures beyond Minnesota including a 1998 trip to the Philippines where he taught meat cutting, sausage making and business management through Land O' Lakes Farmer to Farmer program, a highlight of his career, he remembered it with gratitude. He and Annette also did a mission trip to Ecuador in 2014 where Buster worked on a church, an orphanage and a women's shelter building or remodeling projects (but no lean-to's). It was a bucket list trip and was more than he imagined.

Known for his love of riding motorcycles, Buster's passion likely began in childhood when he served as the mascot for the Valley Blackhawks, an alcohol free motorcycle club. In 2007 Annette got her own bike and together they logged endless miles on the road. He also loved roller skating, horseback riding, traveling and spending time at the Preston cabin they built in 2000. Above all, he loved his grandkids and they loved and adored their Grandpa Buster, especially the unforgettable, fun filled John Deere Gator rides at the farm, cabin and home.

Buster leaves behind his devoted wife, Annette; 5 sons Scott, Jay (Denise), Rusty (Bonnie), Joshua (Michele) and Luke (Colleen); 10 grandchildren Monte, Jayson, Justice, Cole, Meghan, Carter, Alex, Elsie and Mara; one great granddaughter, Keelinn; brother Joe (Grand Meadow); sister in law, Julie (Joe) Sanchez; brothers in law Leon (Denise) Hugi, Steven Hugi, Hugh (Roberta) Hugi and Jerry Miller; many precious nieces and nephews, lifelong cherished friends and the  Hahns. Know that he loved you all.  Also countless people whose lives he touched sometimes with advice, sometimes with food, sometimes just by showing up.

He worked hard, loved deeply, taught and gave of himself generously, lived fully and had lots and lots of fun.

After all, he WAS one-of-a-kind Buster Johnson!

He was preceded in death by his parents and parents in law; an infant grandson; his sisters, Nina, Joyce, Phyllis; brothers, Jerry and James; Nina and Phyllis's husbands, Don Stockdale and Roger Dieterich; Jerry and Joseph's wives, Fini and Carol; daughter-in-law Lori Johnson.

Buster supported the Historical Society, the VFW Auxiliary, Trinity Lutheran Church, the Fire Departments and the Food Shelf to name just a few. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to any of the above or one of your own choice.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ostrander, Minnesota, with Pastor Hermann Bakker officiating. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the church, visitation will continue for 1 hour prior to the service on Saturday. 

Online condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com