Richard E. Johnson

Richard E. Johnson, age 90, of West Jordan, UT, formerly of De Smet, SD, passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2023, in West Jordan, UT.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at American Lutheran Church in De Smet.  Pastor Nate Bendorff will officiate.  Music will be provided by Mary Weerts as organist.

Visitation will be prior to the funeral at the church on Tuesday.

Burial will be at the De Smet Cemetery, De Smet, SD.

Richard “Dick” Eugene Johnson was born on a small farm south of De Smet, South Dakota; April 27th 1933 to Raymond H and Anna (Christiansen) Johnson.

He was the first of four children and the largest at 9 ½ pounds.  He was followed by Merlin Ray Johnson in 1934; Rosemary (Quam) Johnson in 1940 and Lowell H. Johnson in 1949. The family farmed around the De Smet and Carthage areas for several years as did all his Uncles and Grandparent who came to the United States directly from Norway.

Dick worked for many farmers in the area starting at a very young age.  He was a much sought after farm hand!  He knew milking; plowing; rock hauling; tractors; cattle and horses.  He loved horses, especially his favorite horse Flash!

They grew up walking to the school in blizzards but always flat, not uphill both ways!

He had a fairly wild teenage phase with a few car wrecks and other things we won’t mention here! His Mother once told him “You will never make age 30.” I guess the tough Norwegian showed her!

He went to many small local schools including the Johnson School which was on the family property for years and now resides at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic site.

He left De Smet in his early 20’s and headed to the Black Hills.  He got into highway construction and worked for Peter Kiewit Sons for almost 40 years, moving all over the West.  He lived in South Dakota; Wyoming; Montana; Utah; Nevada; New Mexico; Colorado and Idaho.

He married twice and had 5 children.  He settled in Utah after retiring in 1995 and passed away September 14th, 2023 after a courageous battle with Cancer and Dementia.

He loved building things, remodeling, making things better, always staying busy, fishing and gardening.  He most loved listening to Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb music.  He loved his Country Music!

He was preceded in death by his Mother, Father, 2 brothers, 1 sister and an infant child.  He is survived by Alan Quam of Huron; Mary Ann Huff of Idaho; Gordon Johnson of Alaska and JoAnn Johnson of Utah; his dog Buddy and many cousins and dear friends.  He will be greatly missed!

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