Larry James Johnson

Larry James Johnson was born May 27, 1941 in Lincoln County to Hubert and Metta (Nelsen) Johnson. He grew up on a farm near Lake Benton, Minnesota. He was baptized in 1941 and was confirmed in 1955 at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, rural Lake Benton. He attended country school, District #4, and in 1959 graduated from West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, Minnesota. He joined the United States Air Force on January 1, 1962-December 15, 1965. On July 16, 1966 Larry married Janis Kuhn at the United Methodist Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota. Their union was blessed with 2 daughters and 1 son and 47 years of life together. The couple, along with his brother and father, had a dairy farm in Diamond Lake Township until 1988. After selling the dairy farm, Larry was employed by Dave Duus Sawmill, Ramsdell's Agricultural Service, and Cenex Harvest States. He was also a part-time rural mail carrier with the United States Postal Service. In 2006, Larry and Janis moved to Mesa, Arizona. Larry spent the summer months living in Lake Benton and working at Roggenbuck Tree Service. On January 10th, Larry was taken by Ambulance to Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa with complications of pneumonia and flu, where he died peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the age 72 years, 7 months, and 20 days.

Larry was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota and became an associate member of Victory Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. Larry was an active member of the American Legion Post #10 in Lake Benton, Minnesota. Larry enjoyed playing cards, bocce ball, shuffle board, cornhole, hunting, and spending time with family, friends and grandchildren.

Larry is lovingly remembered by his wife, Janis; his children, Karla Sheffield and her husband Paul of Exeter, Nebraska, Koni Withers and her husband Jerry of Phoenix, Arizona, Brad Johnson and his wife Nga of San Tan Valley, Arizona; eleven grandchildren: Brett, Devin, and Haylee Sheffield, Zackary (Sarah) Withers, Sydney (Kameron) Bennett, Danica and Janae Yantzer, Amber, Ashley, Anisha, and Aleah Johnson; one great-grandchild: Konner Bennett; a sister, Faye Rochel and her husband Gerry of Lake Benton, Minnesota; sister-in-law Ruth Johnson of Lino Lakes, Minnesota; brother-in-law Durwood 'Bud' Fehrman of Ivanhoe, Minnesota and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister; sisters Bernita (Lyle) Larsen and Ardis Fehrman; brothers Raymond Johnson and Gerald 'Butch' (Vivian) Johnson.

Blessed be Larry's memory.