Official Obituary of
Mervin C. "Merv" Johnson
March 14, 1932 ~ February 19, 2018 (age 85) 85 Years Old
Mervin Johnson Obituary
Mervin C. "Merv" Johnson, age 85, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Monday, February 19, 2018, at a care center in Watertown. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2018, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. Rev. Janet Miller will officiate. Music will be provided by Judy Everson as soloist accompanied by Marcia Jelsma. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be conducted by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion and Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Watertown and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Merv's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his coffee group and Dawn and Lyle Stevenson. Active pallbearers will be: Dustin Johnson, Jared Johnson, Dennis DeNeui, Aaron Johnson, Ryan Farel and Troy Johnson.
Merv was born on March 14, 1932, in Carthage, SD, to Ernest and Edna (Larson) Johnson. He was a 1950 graduate of Clear Lake High School in Clear Lake, SD. Merv served in the U.S. Army from 1955 through 1957. After his honorable discharge, he lived in Clear Lake, where he drove truck for Albert Skovly.
On September 28, 1963, Merv was united in marriage to Elvina Walford in Clear Lake. In 1965 the couple moved to Watertown, where he worked for Terrace Park Dairy for 18 years. He later worked for Minnesota Rubber, where he retired. Merv then worked at Wal-Mart as a greeter, retiring again from there in 2010.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Elks, and VFW. Merv enjoyed umpiring baseball for many years, selling milk at the S.D. State Fair, bowling, playing cards and camping. His favorite pastime was with his coffee groups. Merv especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and attending their events.
Merv is survived by his wife, Elvina, of Watertown, SD; his children: Lynn (Donna) Johnson, Brad (Angie) Johnson, both of Watertown, SD, Carla (John) Simonsen of Hurley, SD, and Jodi (Jered Jacobson) Fuller, of Emmetsburg, IA; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; his brother, Dennis (Jewel) Johnson of Billings, MT; and his sisters: Mary Ann (Chet) Richardson of Monticello, MN, Arlene (Jim) TeGantvoort of Volga, SD, and Jan (Roger) Farel of Elko, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lyle and Delbert; and one sister, Lorraine.
When: February 23, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
When: February 24, 2018 10:30am
Location: Grace Lutheran Church
Address: 202 2nd Street Southeast Watertown, SD 57201
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be conducted by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion and Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Watertown and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Merv's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his coffee group and Dawn and Lyle Stevenson. Active pallbearers will be: Dustin Johnson, Jared Johnson, Dennis DeNeui, Aaron Johnson, Ryan Farel and Troy Johnson.
Merv was born on March 14, 1932, in Carthage, SD, to Ernest and Edna (Larson) Johnson. He was a 1950 graduate of Clear Lake High School in Clear Lake, SD. Merv served in the U.S. Army from 1955 through 1957. After his honorable discharge, he lived in Clear Lake, where he drove truck for Albert Skovly.
On September 28, 1963, Merv was united in marriage to Elvina Walford in Clear Lake. In 1965 the couple moved to Watertown, where he worked for Terrace Park Dairy for 18 years. He later worked for Minnesota Rubber, where he retired. Merv then worked at Wal-Mart as a greeter, retiring again from there in 2010.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Elks, and VFW. Merv enjoyed umpiring baseball for many years, selling milk at the S.D. State Fair, bowling, playing cards and camping. His favorite pastime was with his coffee groups. Merv especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and attending their events.
Merv is survived by his wife, Elvina, of Watertown, SD; his children: Lynn (Donna) Johnson, Brad (Angie) Johnson, both of Watertown, SD, Carla (John) Simonsen of Hurley, SD, and Jodi (Jered Jacobson) Fuller, of Emmetsburg, IA; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; his brother, Dennis (Jewel) Johnson of Billings, MT; and his sisters: Mary Ann (Chet) Richardson of Monticello, MN, Arlene (Jim) TeGantvoort of Volga, SD, and Jan (Roger) Farel of Elko, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lyle and Delbert; and one sister, Lorraine.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: February 23, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: February 24, 2018 10:30am
Location: Grace Lutheran Church
Address: 202 2nd Street Southeast Watertown, SD 57201
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Mervin Johnson
March 14, 1932-February 19, 2018
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