John Vernon Johnson was born November 28, 1919, near Ethan, SD, to Joseph and Julia (Tobin) Johnson. He served in the US Navy during World War II from July 30, 1940 until August 12, 1946. He served on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and also the USS North Hampton at Guadalcanal, both ships being sunk. On May 3, 1946, he married Lorraine Freidel at Ethan. They lived in the Mitchell and Ethan area for many years until moving to Spring Grove, MN in April of 2006. He was a longtime member of the Ethan American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; six children: Roland Johnson of Spring Grove, MN, Julie Stranger of Ethan, SD, Mari Jo Clark and husband, Courtney of Binghamton, NY, Laurice Johnson and wife, Mona of Rapid City, SD, Lisa Munger of Spring Grove, MN, Amy Frydenlund and husband, Al of Spring Grove, MN; one brother, Wayne Johnson and wife, Helen of Salem, OR; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Johnson of Huron, SD; twenty-three grandchildren, thirty-four great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Myrl, Roland and Eugene, one sister, Goldie Seiders, one son, Joseph John and one granddaughter, Nicole.
