Virgil “John” Williamson was a long-time resident of Mitchell. John was born May 1st 1938 to Rudolph and Hulda (Mork) Williamson in Dell Rapids, SD. After high school and before attending college, John served in the United States Air Force. John graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1965 with a Business Administration Degree and worked for the Army Corp of Engineers and Medicare a number of years.
John met and married his wife, Keo in 1974 and the family moved to Mitchell where he worked at the Mitchell Detox Center. In 1981, while working as a family therapist they moved to Pierre where he worked for the State of SD in the Department of Health.
In 1985 they moved to Vermillion where John earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling. That advancement led him to be employed with Midlands Hospital in Papillion, NE. Later John and Keo moved to Greely CO where they resided until 1995. Desiring to be closer to family and friends they moved back to Mitchell. John continued to work part time as a researcher for the Dakota Discovery Museum in Mitchell.
John enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, playing cards and of course was an avid MN Twins Baseball and NE Cornhusker football fan.
He is survived by his son, Troy and Joyce Kunz of Annacortes, WA and his daughter, Trina and James Kropenske of Bellevue NE, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. John is preceeded in death by his wife, Keo, his parents, his brothers: Floyd and Herman.
John dedicated most of his life helping others gain and maintain sobriety - the family asks
that any memorials be acknowledged with donations to the Mitchell AA Club.
Blessings, Linda and John