Lavern
D. Johnson, 90
 Thief
River Falls - Lavern D. Johnson, 90, died
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at Northwest Medical
Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral
services were held on Friday, Feb. 13, at Seventh
Day Adventist Church in Thief River Falls, with
Pastor Thomas Bentley officiating. Casket bearers
included Ray Schwenzfeier, Roger Schwenzfeier,
Merle Schwenzfeier, Lyle Swanson, Mike Brooks and
Curtis Farbo. Military honors were provided by
American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117 and
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793. Interment will
be at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls.
Lavern
Donald Johnson was born February 8, 1914 in
Minneapolis, the son of Rueben and Emma (Johnson)
Johnson. As a young child he moved to northwest
Minnesota and attended school in Lancaster. He
served his country in the United States Navy as a
Seabee from April 1942 until November 1945. While
in the Navy, he was stationed in New Guinea, Samoa
and the South Sea Island area.
On
June 10, 1951, Lavern was united in marriage to
Ruth Lillian Nancy Farbo in Lancaster. The couple
made their home on the home farm until 1955, when
they bought a farm southwest of Thief River Falls,
in Bray Township. He farmed and had dairy cattle.
Lavern also began working at the Thief River Falls
US Post Office in 1964 and retired after 12 years.
In August of 2000, the couple moved into Thief
River Falls.
Lavern
held membership in the American Legion
Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117. He always loved horses
and spent many happy hours riding. He also enjoyed
visiting the neighbors. He loved to garden, where
he raised both flowers and vegetables.
Survivors
include his wife, Ruth of Thief River Falls;
children, Pauline Balta of Lincoln, Neb., Keith
Johnson of Minneapolis, Dean (Brigitte) Johnson of
Fond du Lac, Wis. and Gary (Rhonda) Johnson of
Berrien Springs, Mich.; and six grandchildren.
He
was preceded in death by his daughter, Heidi
Johnson; his parents; sisters, Mildred Johnson and
Helen Schwenzfeier and a brother, Gordon Johnson.
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