Dean Frederick Johnson

DEAN FREDERICK JOHNSON March 23, 1930 – June 22, 2016      Dean Frederick Johnson passed away on June 22, 2016 at his home on Straight Lake, MN.      Dean was born March 23, 1930 in Mankato, MN to George & Ella (Ehlers) Johnson.  He was raised on a farm near West Mankato where he attended Roosevelt Elementary School and was a member of the Indian Lake Valley 4-H Club.  He graduated from Mankato High School where he played football and hauled the players to the field in his old farm truck.      After high school, Dean worked construction jobs, and then was stationed at Delta Junction, Alaska while in the army as a heavy equipment operator.  He returned to Mankato to attend college for a time and worked as a crane operator for Carlstrom Construction Company.      Dean married Gloria Hasel of Ivanhoe on April 12, 1957.  They built a house near West Mankato.  In 1964 they purchased a farm in Brown County where they lived and raised four children.  While farming, Dean was on the Board of Directors for the MN Soybean Association, the Hanska Co-op, Minnesota Elevator Association and the American Soybean Association.  He raised certified soybean seed and was a member of the MN Crop Improvement Association. Dean & Gloria retired to a home on Straight Lake near Osage, MN where he was a member of the Lion’s Club and the Cemetery Board.      Dean loved to drive and traveled often to the farms in Madelia and Ivanhoe and made several trips over the years to Montana and Alaska.  He enjoyed watching his grandkid’s sport, music and 4-H events. In spring and summer he liked to take his family on pontoon tours of the lake and on rides through the woods in his Ranger.  Fall and winter found him hunting and snowmobiling with family and friends. Dean liked to stay busy and enjoyed life in the north woods.      Dean is survived by his wife, Gloria, children Rochelle (Joe) Koberoski of Mankato, Roxanne (Geoffrey) Motika of Empire, CO and Don (Joan) Johnson of New Prague, MN, grandchildren Tony (Erin), Eric and Nick Johnson, Jake and Lianna Koberoski.       Dean was preceded in death by his parents, George & Ella Johnson, his sister Mary Helen Johnson and his son, George Johnson.      Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Grace Community Church in Osage, MN with Reverend Paul McKibben officiating.  Dorothy Crook will be the organist. Casket bearers will be Anthony Johnson, Eric Johnson, Nickolas Johnson, Jacob Koberoski, Justin Peterson and Ryan Peterson. Granddaughter Lianna Koberoski will serve as an honorary casket bearer.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Osage where Military Honors will be provided by the Star Of The North Marine Corps League.  A luncheon at the church will follow.  To view the tribute or leave online condolences, please visit jonespearson.com.