Robert Eugene Johnson

Robert E. "Bob" Johnson, Sr., age 85, rural Clark, died on Saturday evening, June 25, 2011 in the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD after a short illness of about a month. Mr. Johnson was a longtime owner/operator of Johnson Trucking. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 10:30 AM in the Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS) at Clark with The Reverend Mark Guthmiller officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. The organist will be Aris Schmidt with the congregation singing, "Rock of Ages" #389, "Amazing Grace" #379, "How Great Thou Art" #256 and "Beautiful Savior" #369. The honorary casketbearers will be Taylor, Jeny, Michaela, Lucas, Jordan, Miranda, Skylar and Alexis Johnson, M. H. Seefeldt and Gordon "Cobbie" Magness. The active casketbearers will be Elton, Jason and Travis Johnson, Dale Fink, Kim Warkenthien, Scott Finstad, Gary Doering and Casey Kebach. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and after 9AM at the Church on Thursday morning. Robert Eugene "Bob" Johnson, Sr. was born near Clark, SD on September 21, 1925, the son of Charles and Leona (Benike) Johnson. He grew up near Clark, except for his first year of school which he attended in Owanka, SD, and then attended the East Merton School through the eighth grade. Following his schooling he helped on the farm as well as with area farmers among them being August and MH Seefeldt. On March 9, 1949 he was united in marriage to Marlene Urdahl. The couple lived southeast of Clark until moving to their present farm in 1956. Two years later they bought the farm from Clarence and Hazel Ness and Bob and Marlene have lived there since. After their marriage he worked for various places around Clark among them being Larkin Potato Co., Olson Motor, Huisenga's and the Seefeldt's. He also sheered sheep for many years. In 1963 he purchased a truck and began what is now known as Johnson Trucking, and operation he still operated with his sons, Dennis and Jim. He was still hauling cattle up until a week before he became ill. Over the years Bob has enjoyed countless hours of hunting, driving around the country side looking for deer and pheasants, trapping and other outdoor activities. He thoroughly enjoyed parades, truck shows and whistling to his created tune or one of a song he enjoyed. Bob loved driving around the yard at home with his golf cart, going to auction sales collecting antiques and "old things". Now in later years he liked sitting and watching the RFD Channel, country music and all else the channel has to offer. Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, Jack Titus. Grateful for having shared his life is his wife of over 62 years, Marlene, of Clark, sons, Robert E. (Melody) Johnson, Jr. of Willow Lake, Dennis (Lisa) Johnson and James (LeAnn) Johnson all of Clark, 7 grandchildren, Elton, Jason, Travis, Taylor, Jeny, Michaela and Lucas, 4 great-grandchildren, Jordan, Miranda, Skylar and Alexis. He also leaves a brother, Paul (Sheila) Day and a sister-in-law, Nelda Titus all of Watertown. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com