Milton L. Johnson
Milton Lee Johnson, P.E. (professional engineer), age 89, died Sunday, May 2, 2021, at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon. Milton was born Dec. 7, 1931, in Lake Mills, to parents Selmer Melvin Johnson and Dorothea Adeline Ruby Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed in Asbury Methodist Church, Lake Mills. He attended school in Lake Mills, graduating from high school in 1949. He earned his degree, bachelor of science in civil engineering, from Iowa State College (ISC) in 1957. He obtained his P.E. certification in 1960.
Milton spent the summers of 1947, 1948 and 1949 mining gold 100 miles north of Nome, Alaska. He worked for a contractor from Albert Lea, Minn., in 1950 and 1951, and the summers of 1955 and 1956 as a heavy equipment operator and truck driver. In 1952, he became the street commissioner in Lake Mills. While working there, he was on the Lake Mills Fire Department. While going to school at ISC, he worked for a transfer and storage company in Ames and the summers in Albert Lea.
Upon graduation from ISC, he was employed by the Iowa Highway Commission in Britt. When he passed the required tests and finished the engineer in training program, he was promoted to assistant resident construction engineer in Decorah. In 1962, he became the Clayton County Engineer, a position he held until 1980. He then went to Wapello County as county engineer in Ottumwa. He was also part-time executive director of the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) from 1979 to 1987, when he became full-time with NACE. When he moved the NACE office to Washington, D.C. in 1991, he became the resident construction engineer for the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), a position he held until 1994 when he retired.
After retirement, he helped build an addition to Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He then was asked to be in charge of building a Habitat for Humanity house. He and a partner oversaw the construction of one house and then they were asked to do another one. He also helped on several other houses.
He was an active member of each church he belonged to, starting with the Asbury Methodist Church in Lake Mills, First Lutheran Church in Britt, First Lutheran Church in Decorah, Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkader, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona.
He was a life member of the National Association of County Engineers (NACE), Iowa Engineering Society (IES), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA). He was a board member of NACE, IES, the Iowa section of ASCE, the Southeast Iowa chapter of IES and the County Division of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). He was president of NACE and the Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA). He was listed in Who’s Who and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering for 25 years.
He received many awards, including from ICEA Engineer of the Year in 1971, Special Service Award in 1985, Life Time Achievement Award in 2004, ASCE Wilbur S. Smith Award in 1982, NACE Special Service Award in 1991, Executive Director Emeritus in 1991 and ARTBA Ralph Bartlesmeyer Award 1984.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, having been raised to third-degree in Britt in 1960.
Milt married Myrtle Jane Engelby (1921-2002) in 1953. In 2005, he married Marilyn Brictson (1931-2020).
He is survived by his children, daughters Marlys (Garland) Seibert of Clive, Emily Batista of Philadelphia, Pa., Diane (Tim) Fisk of Monona, and son Steven Johnson of Monona; step-daughter, Cynthia Brictson, Atlanta, Ga.; five grandsons, Brian (Debra) Seibert of West Des Moines, Travis (Jennifer) Torkelson of Farmersburg, Daniel (Tiffany) Torkelson of Farmersburg, Andrew (Katie) Torkelson of Lisbon, and Charles Fisk of Monona; 10 great-grandchildren, Rachael Seibert of Des Moines, Russell Seibert of Des Moines, Isabella Torkelson, Quentin Torkelson, Veda Torkelson, Oliver Torkelson, Wyatt Torkelson and Vincent Torkelson, all of Farmersburg, Oscar Torkelson and Milton Torkelson, both of Lisbon; and a sister, Marilyn (Don) Johnson Wood of Elmhurst, Ill.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, wives Myrtle and Marilyn, son Darrell, son-in-law David Batista, step-daughter Lynn (Steve) Wood and step-son James Brictson.
A visitation with a Masonic service was held on May 6, at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Monona.
Funeral service was on Friday, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona.
Inurnment will be held at a later date.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is assisting the family with arrangements.
