1924
Lee
2015
Lee Johnson
August 26, 1924 — September 1, 2015
Funeral Services for Lee Junior Johnson, 91, of Ellendale, MN, will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 8, at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. The Reverend Richard Sliper will officiate. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by Ellendale Veteran's Organizations. Friends may visit with family from 4-8 p.m. on Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale, and one hour before the service at the church. Lee died on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at the Mayo Clinic Health System, Albert Lea.
He was born on August 26, 1924, in Moulton, Iowa, the son of Lee and Belle (Lawson) Johnson. He attended school and then as a young man he began farming. It was war time, and he proudly served our country in the US Army Air Corps. When he returned from the war Junior returned to farming and then worked as a buttermaker in Glenville, Madison Lake, Freeborn, Bixbie and the Ellendale Creamery. Lee received certification in refrigeration and also obtained his boilers license, working for EF Johnson for 8 years before retiring in 1987. He married Alice Olson in 1944, they later divorced. He later married Jean C. Simonson, February 14, 1976, she preceded him in death. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, a 70 year member of the American Legion and also a member of the V.F.W. and the Eagles Club.
Lee enjoyed dancing, traveling, especially to California and Colorado, gardening working on small motors and going to the casino. He made wine, grape and cherry were among his specialties, which he took to the Steele County Fair for competition. He was honored by the invitation to participate in the "Honor Flight" on April 11, 2015. Lee is survived by his daughter Connie Johnson of New Richland; grandchildren: Sarah (Michael) Lindstrom of Blaine, MN and Shawn (Jessica) Johnson of Kasson, MN; extended family: son Vernon (Jeanne) Simonson,
daughter Lori Simonson (Randy Graves); sons-in-law Ed Eisel, LeRoy Peterson; grandchildren: Dana Simonson, Crystal (Eric) Luxmore, Amber (Adam) Benson, Trevor (Jamie) Titus, Tyler (Shara) Titus, Carly Titus, Ronda (John) Stackpole, Tara (Jeff) Johnston, Eric Eisel, Kevin (Diane) Peterson, Darin (Sue) Peterson; great grandchildren: Alexa and Carson Luxmore, Ayden and Aubri Benson, Carter, Abbey and Levi Titus, Kylie, Kesi and Tony Titus, Kyle and Kaytlin Stackpole, Hallie Johnston, Danielle, Jessica, Nicole, Jacob and Skylar Peterson and many niece and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jean, son Larry Johnson, daughters Boni Eisel and Gladys Peterson, grandson Jamie Peterson; brother Edgar Johnson and his wife Emma, sister Viola and her husband Raymond Nelson, brother Woodrow "Bob" Johnson and his wife Veola, sister Ellen and her husband Jay Grunwald, brother George Johnson and his wife LaVonne. Lee loved to visit and bring people together. His always sunny disposition had a very positive and inspirational impact on the lives of many.
Blessed be his memory
He was born on August 26, 1924, in Moulton, Iowa, the son of Lee and Belle (Lawson) Johnson. He attended school and then as a young man he began farming. It was war time, and he proudly served our country in the US Army Air Corps. When he returned from the war Junior returned to farming and then worked as a buttermaker in Glenville, Madison Lake, Freeborn, Bixbie and the Ellendale Creamery. Lee received certification in refrigeration and also obtained his boilers license, working for EF Johnson for 8 years before retiring in 1987. He married Alice Olson in 1944, they later divorced. He later married Jean C. Simonson, February 14, 1976, she preceded him in death. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, a 70 year member of the American Legion and also a member of the V.F.W. and the Eagles Club.
Lee enjoyed dancing, traveling, especially to California and Colorado, gardening working on small motors and going to the casino. He made wine, grape and cherry were among his specialties, which he took to the Steele County Fair for competition. He was honored by the invitation to participate in the "Honor Flight" on April 11, 2015. Lee is survived by his daughter Connie Johnson of New Richland; grandchildren: Sarah (Michael) Lindstrom of Blaine, MN and Shawn (Jessica) Johnson of Kasson, MN; extended family: son Vernon (Jeanne) Simonson,
daughter Lori Simonson (Randy Graves); sons-in-law Ed Eisel, LeRoy Peterson; grandchildren: Dana Simonson, Crystal (Eric) Luxmore, Amber (Adam) Benson, Trevor (Jamie) Titus, Tyler (Shara) Titus, Carly Titus, Ronda (John) Stackpole, Tara (Jeff) Johnston, Eric Eisel, Kevin (Diane) Peterson, Darin (Sue) Peterson; great grandchildren: Alexa and Carson Luxmore, Ayden and Aubri Benson, Carter, Abbey and Levi Titus, Kylie, Kesi and Tony Titus, Kyle and Kaytlin Stackpole, Hallie Johnston, Danielle, Jessica, Nicole, Jacob and Skylar Peterson and many niece and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jean, son Larry Johnson, daughters Boni Eisel and Gladys Peterson, grandson Jamie Peterson; brother Edgar Johnson and his wife Emma, sister Viola and her husband Raymond Nelson, brother Woodrow "Bob" Johnson and his wife Veola, sister Ellen and her husband Jay Grunwald, brother George Johnson and his wife LaVonne. Lee loved to visit and bring people together. His always sunny disposition had a very positive and inspirational impact on the lives of many.
Blessed be his memory
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