Dennis R. Johnson, 72, of Volga, died Sunday, April 29, 2018, at the Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings.
Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Brookings. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings.
Dennis Ray Johnson was born April 28, 1946 in Volga to Don and Cecilia Johnson. He graduated from Oldham High School in 1964 and Lake Area Vo Tech with an aviation mechanic degree.
Dennis married Nancy Pickering on Feb. 12, 1965. She died Nov. 14, 2009, after being married for nearly 45 years.
They lived briefly in Madison, Watertown, the Twin Cities and Brookings before moving to their permanent home in Volga in 1974 where they raised their two children, Charlotte and Stephen, and he had been enjoying his retirement.
Dennis was employed as an airplane mechanic in Minnesota for Western Airlines. He then joined the 3M Company in Brookings and retired in 2006 after 34 years of employment in the plant engineering department.
Dennis was dedicated to his family, friends and his job. He enjoyed spending time with his two grandsons (Jacob and Ben), traveling, riding his Harley, camping, walking, attending sporting events, doing yard work and having coffee with his friends each day. He also was a member of the Volga Chairs of Hope restoring old wheelchairs.
Dennis was quiet, kind and always took the role as caregiver to others. He never complained and enjoyed the simple things in life while watching wildlife, the moon, and especially his daily walks.
Dennis and Nancy enjoyed many vacation travels while raising their family. Later, as the family left home they continued their travels visiting grandchildren, and spending winters in Arizona. Their favorite vacation spot was the Black Hills.
Survivors include his daughter, Charlotte (Barry) Kempfert of Hudson, Wisconsin, and son, Stephen (Patricia) of Howard Lake, Minnesota; two grandsons; a brother, Dean (Mary) Johnson; a sister, Kathy (Lonnie) Holt; brothers-in-law, Keith (Jane) Pickering and Don Pickering; sisters-in-law, Joyce Pickering, Mary (Tom) Nemitz, Deb (Paul) Courteau, Linda (David) McGirr and several nieces, nephews and several true friends.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nancy, daughter, Sheila; brothers, Larry, Jerry, and Eugene and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wilfrid and Velma Pickering.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
