1920
Robert
2008
Robert Johnson
April 14, 1920 — August 16, 2008
Funeral services for Robert C. Johnson, age 88, a lifelong resident of Strandburg, SD, will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, at the Elim Evangelical Covenant Church in Stockholm, SD. The Reverend Mark Chapman and the Reverend Rodger Jorgenson will officiate. Robert died on Saturday, August 16, 2008, at his home. Family members are asked to meet in the church basement by 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to attend services. The organist will be Steve Misener. Special music will be presented by Paul D. Peterson, soloist, accompanied by Verla Peterson, and a quartet composed of Pastor Mark and Linda Chapman and Gary and Rosie Christianson. Visitation will be at the Emanuel-Patterson Funeral Home in Milbank on Monday from 5-7 p.m., with a time of sharing of Bob's memories beginning at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue in the church Tuesday one hour before services. Pallbearers will be his nephews, Kendall, Doug, Steve, Dale, and Bruce Johnson, and Butch Fonder. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery near Stockholm.
Robert was born on April 14, 1920, on a farm southwest of Strandburg, SD, the son of Gustaf Edwin and Anna Melinda (Anderson) Johnson. Bob was baptized and confirmed in the Elim Evangelical Covenant Church in Stockholm. He attended grade school at Troy No. 2 rural school west of Strandburg. He graduated salutatorian of his graduating class at Strandburg High School on May 19, 1938. Following graduation Robert farmed with his father and his brothers. In November of 1942 he was drafted into the army. He took his basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia, and spent time at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and also had training in Nashville, TN, on maneuvers. Robert served in a tank battalion as a company mechanic. Bob served overseas during WW II in the European theatre of operations. He spent six months in England and Belgium before going into combat in Germany. He received the American Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, and the WW II Victory Medal. Following the end of the war he returned to the U.S. and was discharged from Camp San Louis Obispo, CA, in December of 1945.
He again returned to the farm and farmed with his father until his father's death in 1947. Bob then farmed with his brother Wallace until he was appointed postmaster on January 11, 1957. He married Ruth Wredberg on May 25, 1968, at the Spring Lake Lutheran Church in Spring Lake, MN. he was the father of two children, Twila and Ruel. He served as postmaster in Strandburg until his retirement on November 30, 1990.
Throughout his life Robert had served in a variety of capacities in his church, school, and community. The following include areas he had served in: Post Adjutant of the American Legion Post #171 for fifty-five years; the Strandburg Ball Park Committee; the Evergreen Cemetery Association since it was organized; town finance officer for Strandburg for twenty-eight years; PTA president; institutional representative of the Boy Scout Troop #90; the Strandburg Volunteer Fire Department including fire chief and secretary; member of the Whetstone Valley Gideons; school clerk of the Strandburg Independent School District; member of the Grant County Historical Society; present and vice-president of the Northeastern Postmasters; secretary-treasurer of the Strandburg Commercial Club; played for and managed the softball team; member of Strandburg bowling teams; chairman of the Strandburg Centennial Committee; District 4 Legion Adjutant; Grant County Commander of the American Legion; member of the Stockholm-Strandburg American Legion Post #171; member of the Goodwin VFW Post #6381; member of the National League of Postmasters-South Dakota branch; member of the National Association of Postmasters-South Dakota branch. Robert had also been an active lifelong member of the Elim Evangelical Covenant Church serving as church chairman, vice chairman, deacon, trustee, church secretary, Sunday school secretary and treasurer, auditor, counselor of the youth group, Bible camp staff and Camp Director, and served on the South Dakota District Youth Board and Sunday School Association as well as chairman of family league.
Robert leaves a legacy of faith, strong family ties, and community service. He is survived by his children, Twila Mursu and husband Chris, St. Cloud, MN, and Ruel Johnson and wife Jodell, Moorhead, MN; his grandchildren, Noah, Wylie, and Tice Mursu, St. Cloud, MN, and Ellika and Annika Johnson, Moorhead, MN; his siblings, Wallace Johnson, of Strandburg; Lloyd Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, and Delores Wondra, Bloomington, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ruth on February 20, 1998, and his siblings, Dick, Glenn, Gladys, Raymond, and Leonard.
Robert was born on April 14, 1920, on a farm southwest of Strandburg, SD, the son of Gustaf Edwin and Anna Melinda (Anderson) Johnson. Bob was baptized and confirmed in the Elim Evangelical Covenant Church in Stockholm. He attended grade school at Troy No. 2 rural school west of Strandburg. He graduated salutatorian of his graduating class at Strandburg High School on May 19, 1938. Following graduation Robert farmed with his father and his brothers. In November of 1942 he was drafted into the army. He took his basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia, and spent time at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and also had training in Nashville, TN, on maneuvers. Robert served in a tank battalion as a company mechanic. Bob served overseas during WW II in the European theatre of operations. He spent six months in England and Belgium before going into combat in Germany. He received the American Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, and the WW II Victory Medal. Following the end of the war he returned to the U.S. and was discharged from Camp San Louis Obispo, CA, in December of 1945.
He again returned to the farm and farmed with his father until his father's death in 1947. Bob then farmed with his brother Wallace until he was appointed postmaster on January 11, 1957. He married Ruth Wredberg on May 25, 1968, at the Spring Lake Lutheran Church in Spring Lake, MN. he was the father of two children, Twila and Ruel. He served as postmaster in Strandburg until his retirement on November 30, 1990.
Throughout his life Robert had served in a variety of capacities in his church, school, and community. The following include areas he had served in: Post Adjutant of the American Legion Post #171 for fifty-five years; the Strandburg Ball Park Committee; the Evergreen Cemetery Association since it was organized; town finance officer for Strandburg for twenty-eight years; PTA president; institutional representative of the Boy Scout Troop #90; the Strandburg Volunteer Fire Department including fire chief and secretary; member of the Whetstone Valley Gideons; school clerk of the Strandburg Independent School District; member of the Grant County Historical Society; present and vice-president of the Northeastern Postmasters; secretary-treasurer of the Strandburg Commercial Club; played for and managed the softball team; member of Strandburg bowling teams; chairman of the Strandburg Centennial Committee; District 4 Legion Adjutant; Grant County Commander of the American Legion; member of the Stockholm-Strandburg American Legion Post #171; member of the Goodwin VFW Post #6381; member of the National League of Postmasters-South Dakota branch; member of the National Association of Postmasters-South Dakota branch. Robert had also been an active lifelong member of the Elim Evangelical Covenant Church serving as church chairman, vice chairman, deacon, trustee, church secretary, Sunday school secretary and treasurer, auditor, counselor of the youth group, Bible camp staff and Camp Director, and served on the South Dakota District Youth Board and Sunday School Association as well as chairman of family league.
Robert leaves a legacy of faith, strong family ties, and community service. He is survived by his children, Twila Mursu and husband Chris, St. Cloud, MN, and Ruel Johnson and wife Jodell, Moorhead, MN; his grandchildren, Noah, Wylie, and Tice Mursu, St. Cloud, MN, and Ellika and Annika Johnson, Moorhead, MN; his siblings, Wallace Johnson, of Strandburg; Lloyd Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, and Delores Wondra, Bloomington, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ruth on February 20, 1998, and his siblings, Dick, Glenn, Gladys, Raymond, and Leonard.