Crystal Johnson, age 86, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, formerly of Garretson, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the Anna John Resident Care Center in Hobart, Wisconsin. Memorial services for Crystal and her son Michael were held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson. Interment was in the Norway Lutheran Cemetery, rural Garretson. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed to the family.

Crystal Sharon (Denny) Johnson was born on July 12,1938 to Elmer Denny and his wife Arvilla Roseine Archiquette at the Tomah Indian Hospital in Tomah, WI. She was baptized in October of 1938 at the Tigerton Chapel in Tigerton, WI.

Tragedy struck that same year when her father died. Her mother, Arvilla, later married Kaiser Webster and Crystal and her brother Elmer lived with their stepfamily. Again in 1947 tragedy struck when at the age of 9, Crystal's mother died.

In 1949 at the age of 11, Crystal lived with her maternal uncle Solomon (Benny) Archiquette, his wife Dorthy and cousin Carol Jean. She traveled with them aboard the United States Army Transport Thomas H. Berry to Bremerhaven, Germany where Solomon was stationed for 2 1/2 years. Following her return from Germany in 1952, Crystal lived with her grandmother Effie Archiquette on the Oneida Indian Reservation in Green Bay, WI. A short time later Pastor Seiler joined with Ole and Ida Bergland of Sioux Falls, SD to raise funds to bring Crystal to Canton, SD to attend Augustana Lutheran Academy and Boarding School where she met her future husband. She traveled this leg of her journey alone by train.

In 1957 Crystal married Paul Johnson and would go on to raise five children: Stephen, Michael, Valerie, Daniel, and James. During this busy time Crystal worked as a nurse's aide at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD and then became a transcriptionist of medical records for Dr. Van de Mark. She went on to work many years at IBM where she enjoyed her business trips to Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, and San Francisco. Crystal spent many hours creating intricate beaded jewelry and reading her favorite author, Stephen King. She also enjoyed golfing with her 'Ladies Day' friends at the Brandon and Garretson golf courses.

Sharing her life was a very special and spoiled chihuahua fur baby, Yoda, who was even sneaked into her hospital room for a surprise visit by a special granddaughter. Crystal was especially happy spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren having movie nights and playing games. Later their visits would bring great comfort to her while she was in hospitals and nursing homes. Crystal's final days were spent in hospice care at Anna John's Nursing Home in Green Bay, WI.

Crystal is survived by her sons; Stephen Johnson and his wife, Carol, of Baltic SD, and Daniel Johnson, Green Bay, WI, and daughter, Valerie Carnicle, Green Bay, WI., 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Arvilla, sons, Michael Johnson, and James Johnson, and grandsons Jeremy Johnson and Benjamin Nelson, and a brother, Elmer Nelson Denny.

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Michael Lee Johnson, age 66 of Roslyn, FL passed away at his home on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Memorial services for Michael and his mother, Crystal were held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson. Interment was in the Norway Lutheran Cemetery, rural Garretson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Michael Lee Johnson was born on November 12, 1958 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls S.D. He was the second of five children born to Paul and Crystal Johnson. Mike was raised in Garretson, SD with his parents and siblings. As a child, he and his siblings loved spending time with his cousins and often visited Spirit Lake, IA. They enjoyed going to Arnolds Park at Lake Okoboji and would ride the rides and eat seemingly infinite amounts of cotton candy.

Michael attended grade school through high school in Garretson, SD. After high school he joined the Army and was stationed at White Sands, NM. In 1981 he married Debbie (Tran-Brock) Johnson, and in October of 1982 they were blessed with their first child, Jeremy Johnson, who was followed by their daughter Kasee Johnson in April of 1984. Upon his departure from service in the Army, Michael worked at Triple R Paving with his brother James. Later he drove truck for Kroeger Materials, Myrl and Roy's Paving, and even the BIG dump truck that worked the quarry in Sioux Falls.

Michael slowed down and enjoyed the relaxed pace of retirement. He found an old camper and loved fishing and camping along the Sioux River and the lakes in northeast South Dakota and eventually settled down in the small town of Roslyn, SD. He enjoyed fishing, going to church, listening to church seminars, and helping his neighbors.

Michael is survived by his daughter, Kasee Johnson (Kevin Lewis); three grandchildren: Jeremee, Kyleena, Gracie, and a great grandson on the way; his mother, Crystal Johnson; two brothers: Stephen (Carol) Johnson, Daniel Johnson; and a sister Valerie Carnicle. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

He is preceded in death by his son, Jeremy Johnson; his father, Paul Johnson; a brother, James "Jimmy" Johnson; and a nephew, Benjamin Nelson.

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Debra passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, March 17, 2025. Debby grew up in Garretson, South Dakota with her parents, Marvin and Dorothy DeSchepper, and her siblings, Beverly, Julie, Paul and Karen. She graduated from Garretson High School in 1969 and then attended University of South Dakota located in Vermillion, SD. She obtained her BS in Business Management &Accounting at Huron University and became a certified CPA. Debby moved to Sarasota, FL in 1972 and agreed to go on a blind date water-skiing and happened to meet the love of her life, Mark Edward LaCross. The two were married July 28th, 1973 in Venice, Florida. Debby and Mark lived as newlyweds in Jacksonville, FL where Mark was stationed in the United States Navy. In 1975 they welcomed their son Jonathan and in 1978 their daughter, Amy. Also in 1978, they moved their family back to Garretson, SD where Mark worked with John Deere, staying in South Dakota until 1998. Over the next 21 years they made homes in Devils Lake, ND, Appleton, WI, Eau Claire, WI & Ramsey, MN. Finally in 2016, they retired in beautiful Venice, FL where she loved hosting visits from her family. Throughout her life Debby enjoyed golfing, reading, bowling & crocheting. She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Garretson, South Dakota and Epiphany Catholic Church in Venice, Florida. 

Debby is survived by her husband Mark LaCross, her children Jonathan (Jessica) Lillian, Luke LaCross, Amy (Robert) Zaya, and Conrad Neifert and siblings Beverly DeSchepper, Paul DeSchpper, and Karen Schwenk.. Debra is proceeded in death by her parents Marvin and Dorothy DeSchepper, and her sister Julie Heinemann. 

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, March 25th at 2:30 in the Sarasota National Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Garretson, South Dakota Fire Department. 

     John Kevin McDonald of Rock Rapids, IA passed away on March 16, 2025 at the age of 77.  He was surrounded by his wife of 38 years and all five of his children.  

     John was born on January 29, 1948 to Joseph and Miriam McDonald in Garretson, SD where he attended the Garretson public school system, graduating from Garretson High School in 1966.  John was an accomplished, and well rounded high school athlete.  He participated in football, basketball, track and field and baseball, earning many honors and leading Garretson to a number of district championships.  Until the day of his passing, Garretson remained a magical place to him.  He cherished his time there and often recounted memories of his youthful shenanigans with his friends and family.  As years passed, many of the faces and places in and around Garretson were adopted by John’s family and children as center stage for their frequent get-togethers and family outings.

     After graduating high school in 1966, John attended General Beadle State Teachers College (Dakota State University) where he studied Education.  After graduating, John accepted his first role as a teacher and coach in Glenham, SD in 1971.  While his time in Glenham was relatively brief, he carried many of the close friendships he developed there with him for the rest of his life.  

     In 1974, John accepted a teaching and coaching position at Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids, IA.  In this role he would teach English and continue his coaching career.  Central Lyon became his adopted home and a place he would never leave.  In his nearly 35 at years at Central Lyon he had a long list of accolades, accomplishments and honors.  He dedicated decades of his time and love to the athletic programs at Central Lyon.  In those years, he spent periods of time as head coach of basketball, baseball, track and field and also served as Athletic Director. He is also a member of the Central Lyon Athletic Hall of Fame.  While John enjoyed all of his on-field successes as a coach, it was the long-lasting relationships he formed with his athletes that drove him and what he always viewed as his real reward. John took his role as an educator very seriously.  He worked tirelessly and pushed students to the absolute limit of their abilities.  In later years, former students commonly contacted him and credited his teachings of grammar and general motivation as elements that led to successes in their own lives. In all his years at Central Lyon, John considered the greatest of his accomplishments and joys to be meeting and marrying his wife Polly and having the ability to teach and coach all 5 of his children, Chad, Jennifer, Kelli, Karli and Korey.  

     After his retirement from teaching, John quickly settled into a very happy life filled with travel and time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren.  Many of his most cherished days were spent at the family lake home on Big Sand Lake near Park Rapids, MN.  The time spent there may have been the pinnacle of happiness in his life.  It was there that he was surrounded by friends and family, and it was there where all could appreciate the greatness of his quick witted and sharp comedic mind, his kindness, his hard work and his soft-spoken love and dedication to all of those whom he loved the most.

     John was preceded in death by both of his parents, four of his siblings, and both of his in-laws.  He is survived by his wife Polly; son Chad McDonald and his children Lincoln and Chaning; daughter Jennifer Paasch (Brad) and her children Noah, Emma and Addi; daughter Kelli Docker (Ben) and her children Ellie, Brody and Kaycie; daughter Karli Hyde (Tim) and son Korey McDonald.  In addition to his wife and children, he leaves behind four sisters, two brothers, many nieces and nephews and a community full of loving friends and “adopted" family members.

     A reception will be held Friday, March 21 from 4-8 PM. Family will be present from 6-8 PM.  A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 22 at 11 AM.  Fittingly, both events will be held at the Central Lyon Activities Center Gymnasium where John spent so much of his time and experienced so much joy in his life.  He is loved, and he will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Central Lyon Foundation or one of the three memory care support services that have been instrumental in John’s care: Active Generations, Friendly Horizons, and Visiting Angels.