Obituary for Lynn Johnson
Lynn A. Johnson, age 91, Watertown, formerly of Florence, SD, passed away Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Prairie Lakes Hospital.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown with Pastor Janet Miller officiating. Music will be by Judy Everson and Marcia Jelsma.
Visitation is from 4-7 p.m., Monday, December 3rd at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel and prior to the service at the church.
Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery with military honors by Frank H. Adams Post 750 of the VFW, American Legion Post 17 and the SD Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team.
Pallbearers will be John Moes, Larry Bergh, Steve Wishard, Ed Flemming, Rod Muller and Blaine Martian.
The family requests memorials be designated to Grace Lutheran Church, 202 2nd St. SE, Watertown, SD 57201.
Lynn Andrew Johnson was born on June 10, 1927 to Joseph H. and Mabel (Eik) Johnson in Watertown, South Dakota. He attended rural school until eighth grade when the school closed and the students were transferred to Florence, South Dakota. There he graduated as valedictorian in a class of eight students! He helped his father on the farm until he was drafted into the Army on January 12, 1951. After basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, Lynn served in Korea with I Company, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division on a machine gun squad on and near the MLR (main line of resistance). He received the combat infantry badge and two campaign stars on his Korean Service Ribbon. Lynn was discharged on October 11, 1952 and came back to the states in time to help with the harvest.
On November 22, 1953 Lynn married Phyllis Dawn Pries in Watertown. The couple made their home on the farm south of Florence where they raised beef cattle and farmed small grains. In September 2007, Lynn and Phyllis moved to Watertown. Lynn cared for his wife for seven years when she was confined to a wheelchair. Phyllis passed away on January 6, 2015 at their residence. Some of Lynn's enjoyment included visiting with family and friends, reading, playing cards and square dancing.
Lynn was a Life member of the VFW and the American Legion. He was a board member of Helgen Church when it was moved into Florence and 30 years later he was president of the congregation when the current structure was built. Lynn was also a member of the Boy Scouts.
After retirement he became involved in the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, the Codington Conservation District and was instrumental in helping set up the Big Sioux Tree Nursery as a non-profit corporation. Lynn was on the board of directors of the Eastern South Dakota Research Farm in Brookings. In later years he was active in the local veterans groups serving as commander of Post 750 of the VFW from 2005-2006. He served as an honor guard for both the VFW and American Legion Post 17; and was also very proud of the Watertown Veterans Memorial.
Lynn is survived by his children, Greg Johnson of Minneapolis, MN and Dawn (Kevin) Bakke of Florence, SD; grandson, Zachary Bakke of Watertown, SD; step-grandchildren, Kris (Laurie) Bakke of Blaine, MN and Keena Bakke of Hugo, MN; brother-in-law, Roger (Suzanne) Pries of Pierre, SD; niece, Sarah (Casey) Coons of Arvada, CO; and nephew, Brent (Mona) Pries of Pierre, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis; and his sister, Ruth Spurrell.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown with Pastor Janet Miller officiating. Music will be by Judy Everson and Marcia Jelsma.
Visitation is from 4-7 p.m., Monday, December 3rd at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel and prior to the service at the church.
Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery with military honors by Frank H. Adams Post 750 of the VFW, American Legion Post 17 and the SD Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team.
Pallbearers will be John Moes, Larry Bergh, Steve Wishard, Ed Flemming, Rod Muller and Blaine Martian.
The family requests memorials be designated to Grace Lutheran Church, 202 2nd St. SE, Watertown, SD 57201.
Lynn Andrew Johnson was born on June 10, 1927 to Joseph H. and Mabel (Eik) Johnson in Watertown, South Dakota. He attended rural school until eighth grade when the school closed and the students were transferred to Florence, South Dakota. There he graduated as valedictorian in a class of eight students! He helped his father on the farm until he was drafted into the Army on January 12, 1951. After basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, Lynn served in Korea with I Company, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division on a machine gun squad on and near the MLR (main line of resistance). He received the combat infantry badge and two campaign stars on his Korean Service Ribbon. Lynn was discharged on October 11, 1952 and came back to the states in time to help with the harvest.
On November 22, 1953 Lynn married Phyllis Dawn Pries in Watertown. The couple made their home on the farm south of Florence where they raised beef cattle and farmed small grains. In September 2007, Lynn and Phyllis moved to Watertown. Lynn cared for his wife for seven years when she was confined to a wheelchair. Phyllis passed away on January 6, 2015 at their residence. Some of Lynn's enjoyment included visiting with family and friends, reading, playing cards and square dancing.
Lynn was a Life member of the VFW and the American Legion. He was a board member of Helgen Church when it was moved into Florence and 30 years later he was president of the congregation when the current structure was built. Lynn was also a member of the Boy Scouts.
After retirement he became involved in the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, the Codington Conservation District and was instrumental in helping set up the Big Sioux Tree Nursery as a non-profit corporation. Lynn was on the board of directors of the Eastern South Dakota Research Farm in Brookings. In later years he was active in the local veterans groups serving as commander of Post 750 of the VFW from 2005-2006. He served as an honor guard for both the VFW and American Legion Post 17; and was also very proud of the Watertown Veterans Memorial.
Lynn is survived by his children, Greg Johnson of Minneapolis, MN and Dawn (Kevin) Bakke of Florence, SD; grandson, Zachary Bakke of Watertown, SD; step-grandchildren, Kris (Laurie) Bakke of Blaine, MN and Keena Bakke of Hugo, MN; brother-in-law, Roger (Suzanne) Pries of Pierre, SD; niece, Sarah (Casey) Coons of Arvada, CO; and nephew, Brent (Mona) Pries of Pierre, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis; and his sister, Ruth Spurrell.