David K. Johnson

David K. Johnson, 76, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Dougherty Hospice house in Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by his family. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Astoria, SD. Visitation will be held the night prior from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, March 22, 2024 at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, SD.
David Keith Johnson was born on December 23, 1947, in Hendricks, MN, the son of Martin and Clara (Grimlie) Johnson. He grew up in Astoria and attended and graduated from Astoria High School in 1966. Following high school, he enlisted briefly in the Army during the Vietnam era before being medically discharged. Dave then started his career as a shoe salesman, starting in Marshall, MN, at Tradehome where he met the love of his life, Norma Stripling. On February 23, 1974, David married Norma in Marshall, MN at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. To this union, two children were born: Martin and Mindy.
Dave enjoyed a long career in the shoe industry, working for Tradehome over 20 years before opening his own business, ‘Dave’s Shoes’. Following his retirement from the shoe business, he worked a number of various jobs to stay busy. Dave stayed busy following his children and grandchildren’s sporting events and activities across the state. He enjoyed watching his sports teams including the S.D.S.U. Jackrabbits, Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Dave enjoyed spending time with Norma outside taking motorcycle rides or on whatever toy he had at the time. He also enjoyed playing card games with family and friends, especially pinochle. Dave was also known to enjoy taking trips to local and not so local casinos. He always loved playing “the Buffalos” and his “Leprechauns”. Buffalo!!
He was the family guardian and family always came first for Dave. He was always there for you when you needed him and always had the ability to make you smile, always had a good joke to tell. Dave loved to tell stories and chatting with his friends and family. He was a life-long member at Bethel Lutheran Church in Astoria. Dave was proud of his hometown and where he came from.
Dave is survived by his wife, Norma; daughter Mindy (Brad) Luze of Brookings, SD; grandchildren, Brock (Katelyn Johansen) Luze and Bretton Luze; brother, Allen (Janet) Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and faithful dog Jasper.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Clara Johnson; son, Martin Johnson; sisters, Sylvia Lemke and Marjorie Pearson; father and mother-in-law, Norman and Darlene Stripling; sister-in-law, Jackie Erickson; brother-in-law Michael Stripling and Terry Stripling.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.