Benjamin Prom Johnston

Benjamin “Ben” Johnston, age 52, of North Mankato died unexpectedly at home on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

Memorial and celebration of Ben’s life will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Northview North Mankato Mortuary. There will be time to visit with the family one hour prior to the service and also immediately following. Memorials are preferred to BENCHS Riverside Regional Pet Shelter, 1250 N River Drive, Mankato.

Ben was born September 16, 1966 to Frank and Constance (Prom) Johnston in Winnipeg, Canada.  He graduated from Mankato West High School in 1985 and then attended the University of Kansas where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1989.

Ben enjoyed reading, libraries, golf, maps, birdwatching, astronomy, Kansas Basketball and playing Omaha hold ‘em with his family.  A skilled map-reader and navigator, he once guided us through southwest South Dakota on unmarked dirt roads using power lines and railroad tracks to pinpoint our location.  What Ben loved most was fishing with his nephew.  His family enjoyed spending time with him on fishing trips to northern Minnesota where he could identify seemingly any bird by song. In 2017 they traveled to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national parks where together they experienced geysers, grizzlies, fickle trout and one amazing whitewater rafting adventure. 

Ben is survived by his mother, Constance; sister, Sarah Aldinger; brother-in-law, Mitchell Aldinger; nephew Aiden Aldinger; aunt, Alice Engdahl; uncle, Bob Sherwin; and cousin, Bill Sherwin.

He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Johnston; grandparents, Alfred and Veronica Prom; aunt, Joan Sherwin; and cousin, Mark Sherwin.