Donald L Johnson

Donald LeRoy Johnson, 87, a resident of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, died Friday, December 8, 2017 at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls, MN. Donald LeRoy Johnson was born October 9, 1930 the son of Alfred B. and Annie (Erickson) Johnson in Pelican Rapids. He was baptized and confirmed at Grove Lake Lutheran Church near Pelican Rapids. In 1948 Donald graduated from Pelican Rapids High School.  After graduation he worked on the family farm.  On June 25, 1952 he was united in marriage with Norma Rouse.  They moved to Montana where Don worked on a ranch for Vernie Larson.  After about a year they returned back to the farm near Pelican Rapids.  Don farmed for many years, but also worked at Crane Johnson Lumber Company in Pelican Rapids, drove school bus, and worked at Egge Construction.  In 1959 Donald began to raise registered milking shorthorn cattle.  Donald L. Johnson & Sons farm changed to Bar D Farms in 1968.  In 2007 the dairy cattle were sold but Don continued to farm.  The fall of 2016 was the last year that Don harvested a crop and he commented after combining over 1200 acres of corn “that was the best corn crop we have ever raised”.  Don was a lifetime member of Grove Lake Lutheran Church and served on the Grove Lake Cemetery Board. He was a member of the National and State Milking Shorthorn Society, Farmers Elevator Board in Pelican Rapids and the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Detroit Lakes. Don enjoyed fishing (especially with his friend Tony), deer hunting, and stopping in at the Pelican Rapids Pool Hall. Playing cards was a big pastime for Don, and he would play games like whist, tripoli, rummy and schmear with family and friends.  Don and Norma were avid Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings fans where they watched as many games as they could. For 18 years Don and Norma spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. Donald took pleasure in shooting pool and playing cards at the community center in Apache Junction.  Don is preceded in death by his mother Annie (Erickson) Johnson; father Alfred B. Johnson; three brothers: Charley Baker, Johnny Baker, & Arnold Johnson (Jane); two sisters: Tena (Bert) Thompson & Edna (Edward) Sjogren. Donald is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Norma (Rouse) Johnson; Four children: David (Patty) Johnson, Michael (Deb Abbey) Johnson, Pat (Brad) Tollerud, & Wayne (Dena) Johnson, all of Pelican Rapids; twelve grandchildren: Kristina Johnson, Shane (Brittany) Johnson, Jennifer (Aaron) Field, Thomas Fradet, Adam (Ingrid) Johnson, Todd Johnson, Staci (Darin) Allmaras, Mandi (Ryan) Kurzweg, Brady (Paula) Tollerud, Kati (Jon) Thorland, Ian Johnson and Grace Johnson and seventeen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials preferred to the Grove Lake Lutheran Church or the Grove Lake Cemetery Association. Visitation: Monday, December 11, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Larson Funeral Home in Pelican Rapids, MN.  Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at Grove Lake Lutheran Church. Memorial Service: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Grove Lake Lutheran Church, Rural Pelican Rapids, Minnesota with Pastor Tessa Hansen officiating. Burial: Grove Lake Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Please keep the Johnson family in your thoughts and prayers. Donald's Memorial Folder