Lyle O. Johnson

Lyle Obert Johnson, 89, of Rothsay, Minnesota, died Friday, August 30, 2013, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Lyle was born on July 8, 1924 to J. Arndt and Ida (Erickson) Johnson in Rothsay. He was baptized and confirmed at Hamar Lutheran Church in Rothsay and graduated from Rothsay High School in 1942. On January 2, 1949 he married Delia Moen at Friborg Lutheran Church, Rothsay.

Shortly after graduating he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent the next four years serving in the Pacific campaign of World War II. His engineering unit built roads and bridges in New Guinea, the Philippines, and other islands. His was one of the first units to enter Japan after the surrender.

Although Lyle was born a “town” kid, the son of the local blacksmith, farming got in his blood as a young boy working on the farms of his grandfather and uncle Elmer Johnson. After returning from WWII he became a farmer himself. When he married Delia they became lifelong partners in their dairy farming operation, working side by side on the family farm that has been in Delia’s family since 1872. They continued to make the farm their home until June 2013 when Lyle’s health declined and they moved to Pioneer Care in Fergus Falls.

Lyle was a lifelong sports fan, especially enjoying high school basketball and wrestling. He greatly enjoyed following the Minnesota Twins and even got Delia hooked on watching them play after their retirement. He and son Neal found a common passion in sled dog racing when Neal was a young teen. Through racing they traveled all over the Midwest and Alaska and made new friends from all over the world, many who came to visit them on the farm where they became Delia‘s friends also. Lyle and Delia also enjoyed watching and identifying the variety of birds and fowl that came to their feeders and yard.

Lyle was a kind, quiet, witty man, but the thing we’ll most remember him for was his love and devotion for the love of his life, Delia. Their marriage of almost 65 years was an example to all of the happiness created from a lifetime of sharing the ups and downs, never giving up, and always showing their love for each other.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, J.Arndt and Ida Johnson, brothers Walter, Clifford, Harry, Alexander, and Milton, and son-in-law Eugene Waldoch.

He will be so missed by his wife Delia, children Faith Waldoch, of Rothsay, John (Marilyn) Johnson of Hunter, ND, Irving Johnson of Erhard, Wayne (Kim) Johnson of Wyoming, MN, and Neal (Carolyn) Johnson of Fergus Falls; grandchildren, Jodi Johnson, Rebecca (Brian) Foro, Brad (Deidra) Waldoch, Debi (Chris) Walter, Laura Waldoch, Jamee (Jim) Mossengren, Cole Johnson, Sherry Johnson, and Julia Johnson, Marney Curfman, Brienne Curfman, Lyndsey Nordlund, Joshua Curfman; great-grandchildren: Zachery Rossum, Geneva Foro, Delia and Johnathan Walter, Maria, Andrew, and Adam Waldoch, McKensi and Maxwell Mossengren; siblings: Alice Lutgen of St. Paul, Blanche Oatman of Peoria, AZ, and Alvin Johnson of Erhard, MN.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday with a 6:30 p.m. public prayer service at the church. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service.
Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at New Life Lutheran Church, Rothsay, MN
Clergy: Reverend Paul Huso
Military Participation: Rothsay Legion
Interment: North Friborg Cemetery, rural Rothsay