Rev. Kenneth Roger Johnson, age 97, Little Falls, MN, formerly of Brandon, SD, went home to is Heavenly home on Tuesday, February 5, 2025, at Highland Senior Living in Little Falls. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Spirit of Truth Lutheran Church in Brandon, with Pastor Jim Steen officiating. Interment will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Garretson. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson, and one hour prior to services at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Spirit of Truth Lutheran Church in Brandon, South Dakota: 112 E. Annabelle Street, Brandon, South Dakota 57005.
Kenneth Roger Johnson was born April 28, 1927, in Iola, Wisconsin to the late Elmer and Pearl (Rollefson) Johnson. He grew up near Nelsonville, Wisconsin and graduated from Amherst High School. Following high school, Roger enlisted in the Army on June 5, 1945. He served in Germany and Italy. He was honorably discharged February 12, 1947. From 1947 to 1951 he attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa earning a bachelor's degree. Answering the call to ordained ministry, he entered Luther Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota in 1952. During his internship year at Victory Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, he met his future wife, Karen Larsen. They began their courtship in April of 1955 and were engaged in July 1955. They married on March 24, 1956.
Soon after Roger graduated from Luther Seminary in 1956, they moved to Ambrose North Dakota to serve five congregations from 1956-1961. During these years they were blessed with two sons, David and Paul. They moved to Harvey, North Dakota in 1961 to serve three congregations until 1966. While in Harvey they were blessed with the birth of their third son Mark. Accepting a third call, they moved to Caledonia, Minnesota, serving two congregations from 1966 to 1979. In the fall of 1979, Roger accepted his fourth and final call of ministry to Garretson, South Dakota serving one congregation from 1979 to his retirement in 1992. Following retirement, Roger and Karen moved to Brandon, South Dakota where they enjoyed the pleasures and opportunities of retirement for 32 years. Over the years he enjoyed fishing, cards, preparing for travel and reading maps, Norse Glee Club, wood working, reading Westerns, and visiting with friends, family and grandchildren. In August of 2024, they moved to Little Falls Minnesota to be closer to their children.
Roger is survived by his sons, David (Val) of Papillion, NE, Paul (Minette) of Starbuck, MN, and Mark (Sarah) of Pierz, MN; six grandchildren, Brittany and Kyle Johnson of Austin, TX, Marta (Michael) Haugan of Woodbury, MN, Lars Johnson of Starbuck, MN, Karena Johnson of Dallas, TX, and Isaac Johnson of Pierz, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
Roger was preceded in death by his wife Karen, parents, Elmer and Pearl, four brothers and two sisters.
www.minnehahafuneralhome.com
