John Lee Armstrong

John Armstrong of Pine City passed away Friday, April 10, 2026 at Northern Pines Assisted Living of Pine City, at the age of 88.

John Lee Armstrong was born October 6, 1937 to Lee and Ina Armstrong in Adrian, Minnesota.  He was a graduate of Mora High School and later enlisted in the US Army.  John served in Korea and following his discharge, he returned home.  There, he began working for the Pine City Co-operative and on May 20, 1961, he married Darlene Mullins at Zion Lutheran Church in Pine City.

John was a truck driver and served as station manager at Gehl Oil Company and later began working for East Central Electric in Braham.  There he worked as a journeyman lineman, retiring in 1999 with 20 years of service.  

John was an avid woodworker and enjoyed spending time in his wood shop.  He would enjoy his daily walks with his labradors. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and hunting raccoon with his dogs. He attended several trapping conventions. John was a member of the Pine City Volunteer Fire Department, Habitat for Humanity and was instrumental in Jailhouse Ministry and Teen Challenge.

John is survived by his wife Darlene Armstrong of Pine City; children Randy Armstrong, Eric Armstrong both of Pine City, Debra (Mark) Welle of Florida, Doug (Judy) Armstrong of Rush City; 8 grandchildren: Mike, Tim, Sarah, Randi Jo, Ashlie, Nick, Levi and Kyle; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters Lois Armstrong of Minneapolis and June Zwart of Rogers; sister-in-law Marlys Armstrong of Mounds View; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lee and Ina Armstrong; siblings Jim Armstrong, Susan Schmidt.

Memorial services for John: 11am Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Living Hope Christian Center in Pine City with Pastor Andrew Shaw officiating.  Friends may gather one hour prior to the service on Thursday.  Burial will be at a later date in the Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City. Military honors will be accorded by the Heath Perkins American Legion and the Novak Milliren VFW Post of Pine City.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel.

www.FuneralAndCremationService.com