Gary Johnson

ROSLYN- Gary Johnson, 78 of Roslyn died on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at a Sioux Falls Hospital. His funeral will be at 10:30 A.M. Monday, July 18, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster. Pastor Mike DeKraai will officiate. Burial will be at Roslyn Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday 5-7 P.M. ending with a 7 P.M. prayer service. Fiksdalfuneral.com. Gary Lee Johnson was born on Wednesday, December 29, 1937 to Joseph and Sylvia (Donat) Johnson at Webster, South Dakota. The family lived on a farm north of Holmquist in Kidder Township, Day County. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster. He attended #113 country school near his home and then graduated from Webster High School in 1956. After high school he served in the South Dakota National Guard for eight years. He also began working at Reporter and Farmer newspaper in Webster. On June 5, 1959 he married Sharon Sellevold at Roslyn Lutheran Church. After their marriage the couple made their home on the Sellevold family farm north of Grenville. He continued working for Reporter and Farmer and helping on the Sellevold farm. In 1987 he moved to Roslyn. He was currently working at the newspaper and had worked there for over sixty years. He was a member of Roslyn Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council and after the church closed he transferred his membership to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster. He currently served on the Roslyn Lutheran Foundation and Cemetery Board. He enjoyed hunting, gun collecting, and guitar collecting. He loved taking care of his pickup and was a skilled mechanic. Gary loved music and for over sixty years, until the present time, Gary was involved with several local bands which played in the area. He played with the Starlite Band for several years, then with Gary Gardner (Gary & I), the Gary Lee Three and most recently with the Roslyn Creamery Band. Gary passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 78 years, 6 months and 14 days. Survivors include one son, Lonnie (Marie) Johnson of Grenville, SD; three brothers, Charles (Ann Marie) Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, Harlan Johnson of Watertown, SD and Bob (LaVonne) Johnson of Frederick, SD; five sisters, Betty (Laverne) Bjerke of Webster, SD, Janice (Ordean)Torgerson and Judy (Larry) Picht both of Watertown, SD, Echo (Charles) Flagstad of Wyoming, MN and Kathy (Eugene) Ausland of Andover, SD; four grandsons, Andrew, Alex (April), Ethan (Jessica) and Evan Johnson, one great grandchild; one step-great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents a daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Johnson and a sister-in-law, Judy Johnson.