Wayne A. Johnson, age 89, of Wolsey, passed away Saturday, May 25, 2019, at his home with his family by his side. His memorial service was held at 10:30 AM, Friday, May 31st, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Wolsey. Military honors were be conducted by the Hershman-Gordon Post #59 American Legion of Wolsey.
Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church or St. Jude's Children Research Hospital.
Wayne Allen Johnson was born on February 11, 1930, to Oscar and Pearl (Garlow) Johnson in Roberts County, South Dakota. He graduated from Sisseton High School in 1948.
Wayne was born the second of nine children during the depression and he grew up with a strong work ethic. It has been told that he walked miles to his country school in the Sisseton Hills uphill both ways.
On September 6, 1953, he married Beverly Grinde in Peever, South Dakota.
He served in the Army from 1954 to 1956 where he was stationed in Japan during the Korean War Conflict. After he was honorably discharged, he enrolled at Northern State College. He completed his Bachelor Degree in Education in an astounding 2 years and 10 months in 1959, all while working full time at International Harvester in Aberdeen. In 1963, he completed his Master's Degree in Education Administration. He taught in Spencer, SD and Hecla, SD. He was a School Administrator in Kidder, SD, Royalton, MN, Wolsey, SD, and Wilmot. SD. He retired in 1992. For 40 plus years, Wayne worked summers and after retirement as a crop hail adjuster for W.N. VanCamp.
He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed spending time hunting and fishing with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He had an infinite amount of patience teaching numerous children to fish and water ski at his cabin on Clear Lake. He was a master at limericks and unfortunately taught his grandchildren many of them while hunting and fishing
Grateful to have shared his life is his wife of 65 years, Beverly; his five children and their spouses, David and Linda Johnson of Fergus Falls, MN, Doreen and Gary Boomsma of Wolsey, SD, Bradley and Shelly Johnson of Bowdle, SD, Brian and Kristin Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, and Paul and Michelle Johnson of Wolsey SD; 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, Caitlin Johnson, Gretchen Johnson, Sarah Johnson and her daughter, Beatrice, Julie and Jade Beehler and their children, Eric, Emily and Easton, Joshua and Courtney Boomsma and their children, Garry and Maximus, Brian and Megan Boomsma and their children, Dylan and Royce, Derek and Krystal Johnson and their children, Ashton, Maiz and Bridger, Aaron and Kati Johnson and their children, Harper and Brynlee, Micaela and Justin Mennenger and their children, Rielyn and Cameron, Emma Johnson, Samuel Johnson, Nathan and Ashley Johnson, Ryne Johnson and Hunter Johnson.
He is also survived by his sister, Lavonne Grimsrud of Sisseton, SD; his sister-in-law, Shirley Johnson of Gold Canyon, AZ; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Oscar and Pearl; his brothers, Erwin, Vern, Darrell, Odean, Ronald; two infant sisters, Ardis and Geraldine; one nephew, Daniel Johnson; one brother-in-law, Don Grimsrud; and one sister-in-law, Ruth Johnson.