Gordon Johnson

Gordon Arthur Johnson, 72, of Battle Lake, died Thursday, April 5, 2012, at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls. He was born August 22, 1939, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the son of Arthur and Lillian (Rossow) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. He grew up on the family farm in Orwell Township, and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1958. He then attended North Dakota State University, graduating with a degree in Agriculture in 1962. While at NDSU he was with the ROTC, receiving his commission as a Captain. He served his country at Fort Benning, Georgia, and later Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He returned to Fergus Falls in 1965 where he became the Captain Company Commander of the Army Reserves. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1974. On February 16, 1963 he married Cynthia Sether in Fergus Falls. Gordon and Cynthia took over the family farm in 1965, continuing the dairy operation until selling their dairy herd in 2007. They enjoyed hosting numerous International Agricultural trainees from the University of Minnesota who assisted on the farm over the years. The family received numerous awards for their farming and dairy operations. In the 1990’s the couple built their home on West Battle Lake, where they currently reside. Gordon participated in wrestling and football while in high school and college, and was an FFA and 4H member. He was a lifelong active member of Augustana Lutheran Church, and served as a board member of the West Otter Tail County Fair, Select Sires, Orwell Township, and DHIA. Preceding him in death were his parents, and his father-in-law, Sidney Sether. Survivors include his wife, Cynthia, of Battle Lake; three daughters: Stephanie (Eric) Johnson of Waconia, Lisa (Allen) Rezac of Bloomington, and Melissa Johnson of Minneapolis; a son, Todd (Dacia) Johnson of Fergus Falls; a sister, Connie (Larry) Wahlstrom of Fergus Falls; a brother, David (Donna) Johnson of Fergus Falls; seven grandchildren: Sether, Karsten, and Bjorn Johnson, Sidney and Franklin Rezac, and Rachel and Matthew Johnson; his mother-in-law, Mildred Sether of Fergus Falls; and two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Sether of Fargo, ND, and Margaret (Jerry) Rollag of Garfield, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Fergus Falls Dollars for Scholars or the Augustana Foundation. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with a 7 p.m. prayer service and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Phil Tobin Interment: South Friborg Cemetery, rural Carlisle, Minnesota  Military Participation by the Fergus Falls VFW Post 612 and American Legion Post 30. Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.