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Submitted: 7/13/14 • Approved: 7/13/14 • Last Updated: 8/12/15 • R220023-G0-S3
Elmer H. Johnson, age 83, of Yankton, passed away Friday, March 01, 2013 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno, SD.
Elmer Humphrey Johnson was born January 24, 1930 in Freeman, South Dakota to Hans and Emma (Eimerson) Johnson. Elmer went to grade school until the eighth grade where he went to Pleasant Hill School. He left school to help on the farm until his being drafted into the Army in 1952. Elmer started his training at Fort Knox where he also served guard duty at night. Elmer, along with hundreds of others, were shipped to South Korea as an Intelligence Specialist, Jeep Driver and Armed Recon Crewman with the rank of Corporal in the 2nd Recon Company APO 248. He returned to the States with an honorable discharge in 1953. Over the years, after his discharge, Elmer continued farming until he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was an auto mechanic for 11 years. Elmer moved back to South Dakota to help others farm until his marriage to Janis (Kolp) Johnson on December 7th, 1979. Elmer worked at Kolbergs for a couple years as a custodian until his being laid off. Elmer became a father for the first time on November 14th, 1983 when his first son Carl was born. He became father again on June 16th, 1985 when his second son Samuel was born to him. Elmer worked for Ray Hackett cleaning the bar Ray owned and landscaping the Hacketts home on Pearl Street in Yankton. Elmer and his wife Janis lived with their sons in Black Burn Apartments on Douglas until 1988 when they moved to 317 Pearl Street where they lived until he was put in the Menno-Olivet Care Center until his death on March 1 2013. He enjoyed helping others which was apparent when he befriended Albert Brue. They worked together for at least two decades tearing apart machines, appliances, and cars for scrap until Al's Death on December 6th, 2012. He loved listening and watching westerns. Elmer's favorite movie was Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. His favorite singer was Hank Williams. He loved the Songs "Waltz Across Texas" by Ernest Tubb, "There's A Tear In My Beer" by Hank Williams, and "Day-O" By Harry Belafonte. His favorite sayings were "That Was A Goat Snort" or "Ufta-naa." when he heard a fart, "Cheese And Crackers" when he swore politely, and he loved building things from wood, metal, especially scrap in which he made toys, and hand built a very fast go-kart, a whirly gig, and foot stool along with other items over the years. Elmer loved animals and hated it when they were mistreated.
Elmer is survived by his wife, Janis Johnson; his sons, Carl Johnson and Samuel Johnson; his sisters: Lou, Alice (LaVern), Mavis (Orv), and Faye and numbers of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Emma Johnson, his sisters, Elsie and Alida, and older brother, George.
Contributed on 7/13/14 by blplek
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Record #: 220023