LESLIE H. "LES" JOHNSON
February 22, 1920 - April 21, 2004

Leslie H. Johnson of Clear Lake, formerly of Reeve, passed away Wednesday, April 21 at the Willow Ridge Care Center in Amery.

Leslie Hjalmer "Les" Johnson was born February 22, 1920 in Black Brook Township, the son of Hjalmer and Laura (Amundson) Johnson. He grew up in the Black Brook area and attended high school in Amery.

Les met Vera L. Jones when he was hauling milk for Lyle Lewis. In 1940 he was united in marriage to Vera at the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake. Together they raised six children.

In 1943 they took a job operating a dairy farm for John (Jack) Wright Sr. east of Reeve. In 1952 Les went to work for the township of Vance Creek and the family moved to Reeve. Les did road maintenance and operated the grader, maintaining and building the township roads.

He retired in 1985 but continued to operate heavy equipment for contractors in the Clayton and Prairie Farm area.

Vera passed away in 1990 and in 1995 Les moved to Clear Lake where he lived his remaining years. While his true passion was operating the grader, he also loved hunting and fishing. He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed pitching horseshoe, gardening, picking wild berries, reading, and most of all, spending time with his family.

He has been active in helping maintain the Clear Lake Park, raking and assisting with painting picnic tables. Les spent the last days of his life at the Willow Ridge Care Center surrounded by his family.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Vera Johnson; his parents, Hjalmer and Laura Johnson; granddaughter, Betty Bannink; seven sisters and two brothers; and very special friend, Betty Nemish.

Les is survived by children, Kathlyn (Eddie) Bannink of Clear Lake, David (CharLeen) Johnson of Reeve, Karla (Bill) Hollern of Clear Lake, Larry W. (Michele) Johnson of New Richmond, LeRoy (Elizabeth) Johnson of Clear Lake, Bruce (Nilda) Johnson of Clear Lake; grandchildren, Albert Bannink, Laurie Boucher, Sherri Iverson, Amy Bannink, Jenny Bannink, Adele Martin, JoAnn Martin, LeeAnn Johnson, Ken Hollern, Brad Hollern, Marianne Lillie, Teresa Johnson, Robert Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Melinda Selvig, Jason Johnson, Valerie Johnson, and Michele Johnson; 25 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Howard (Erma) Johnson of Clear Lake, LeeRoy (Shirley) Johnson of Clear Lake; sisters, Vivian Seabreeze of Upperco, Md., Margaret Loney of Baldwin; other relatives and friends.

Funeral service was at 2 p.m. April 24 at Reeve Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Paul Hedstrom officiating. Organist was Nancy Bergmann and vocalist was Ken Hollern.

Casketbearers were Al Bannink, Ken Hollern, Arlie Johnson, Jason Johnson, Robert Johnson and Richard Loney.

Interment was in Reeve Cemetery in Vance Creek Township.

Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home of Clear Lake assisted with arrangements.


(New Richmond News)


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