As the old saying goes: Big dogs run with people who have big hearts.
OK. So that’s not an old saying, but it could be in the case of the 2019 St. Paul Winter Carnival’s King Boreas. Monte Johnson and his wife, Mary, have had Bernese mountain dogs in their family for years. The current big dog, Murphy, is their fourth.
“Berners,” as the dogs are called, have a prominent place on either side of Boreas’ LXXXIII’s royal crest.
And the Boreas big heart is as obvious as the coffee-table size dog in the Johnsons’ Roseville living room. Johnson’s long commitment to the community includes: 30 years working with the Boy Scouts, past president and board member of the St. Paul Jaycees, youth sports, Roseville Central Park board, Rotary, Optimist Club and more.
And he’s no stranger to the Winter Carnival. Johnson, president and CEO of Cymbet Corp. in Elk River, was the carnival’s prime minister in 1990 and was on the board of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation (the organization responsible for the Winter Carnival).
His commitment is right there in the royal motto the 83rd Boreas chose for the year: “Celebrate Community Service.” The year that he was prime minister was the year of the Snoopy statues in St. Paul and the theme was “Celebrate!”
Johnson’s motto adds “Community Service.”
The yearlong commitment to represent the Winter Carnival “isn’t an inexpensive thing to do,” Johnson says. His company isn’t able to contribute to the kingly budget.
But after being away from the Winter Carnival for a couple of years while one of his sons played college basketball in Sioux Falls (even the home games were road trips), Monte and Mary decided being Boreas would be worth the personal investment.
“To me, it’s all about community service,” he says. “If you’re given gifts, you share them.”
The Johnsons are both from La Crosse, Wis. (which explains the Packers green and gold background on the royal crest, which we’ll let slide in the spirit of Winter Carnival). Monte says his family didn’t have much money, but his parents always found a way to help others.
Even Johnson’s fraternity at UW-Eau Claire was a service fraternity. He organized blood drives and mustered a group to help paint the ecumenical center.
The couple moved to the Twin Cities in 1980 after he graduated from Eau Claire. That’s when Monte got into Jaycees, serving as president of the St. Paul chapter (one of the largest in the nation, he says) in 1987-88.
Even though he had no sons at the time, Johnson started working with Boy Scouts — first as cubmaster, then as scoutmaster — three decades ago, though he admits his skills are more in organization, accounting and finance than campfires and canoeing. Other dads took on the outdoorsy activities, he says, but the family stayed involved until both of the Johnson sons had earned Eagle Scout status.
Johnson hopes to get the Boy Scouts more involved in Winter Carnival. He’d like to meet with Scout groups in towns the Winter Carnival royalty visits for parades and events throughout the year.
“It’s important to teach the next generation to make a community,” he says.
Monte and Mary have three children: Melanie, Merrick and MacKenzie.
The new Boreas wants an inclusive community. His prime minister, Megan Quiggle, joins other women in that position since 1994. He’s proud of the St. Paul Jaycees and their fight with the U.S. Jaycees to allow women to be full members.
Johnson is especially looking forward to Boreas’ ability to “knight” people, recognizing good deeds and accomplishments. It makes the knights happy.
“We’ll have fun, but more important than fun is joy,” he says. “Knighting someone brings joy.”
Also expect a little joy when Murphy the Berner is out and about with Boreas. In fact, there’s a “Berner Night” set for Kellogg Mall Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 1.
2019 St. Paul Winter Carnival Royal Family
Boreas LXXXIII: Monte S. Johnson, Roseville
Aurora, Queen of Snows: Alison Gunter, St. Paul
Prime Minister: Megan Quiggle, St. Paul
Titan, Prince of the North Wind: Doug Johnson, Woodbury
North Wind Princess: Lauren Kaldun, St. Paul
Euros, Prince of the East Wind: Jim Nelson, Roseville
East Wind Princess: Kelly Koerpel, St. Paul
Zephyrus, Prince of the West Wind: Randy Graff, Cottage Grove
West Wind Princess: Kara Berzelius Martin, Brooklyn Center
Notos, Prince of the South Wind: Anthony Fernandez, West St. Paul
South Wind Princess: Becca Moos, St. Paul
Captain of the Guard: Alex Keller, West St. Paul
King’s Guards – North Wind: Mason Kaske, Anoka; James Valento , Prior Lake
King’s Guards – East Wind: Vincent Berger, Vadnais Heights; Andy Tubman, North St. Paul
King’s Guards – West Wind: Joe Rowan III, South St. Paul; Mina Hunter Baltes, West St. Paul
King’s Guards – South Wind: Jennie Albert, Brooklyn Park; Nick Leach, Woodbury
Royal Coordinators: John and Barb Maslowski, Maplewood
Klondike Kate (chosen Jan. 9): Sheryl Williams, Welch
