James “Jim” Johnson was born in Perham, MN on March 21, 1949 to Erwin E. and Mayme J. (Strand) Johnson. Jim attended elementary school in Corliss and was taught by, among others, his mother, who he said held him more accountable than other students. He graduated from Perham High School and furthered his education at Fergus Falls Community College and Moorhead State University attaining a BA with a biology major and a chemistry minor.