Wilferd Johnson

Funeral service were held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at the Orient Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert Chell officiating. Burial was in the Prairie View Cemetery, Orient with military honors. Visitation was held from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2008 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the Luce Funeral Home in Faulkton.

Wilferd was born January 2, 1914 to Robert and Clara (Anderson) Johnson in Hector, MN. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith at Swedlanda Lutheran Church, Hector, MN on January 25, 1914.

In 1917 Wilferd, along with his parents and three siblings moved to South Dakota and lived on a farm near Orient. At that time they joined the Orient Lutheran Church. On September 9, 1928 he was confirmed at Orient Lutheran Church. He was very active in his church by serving on the church council, was the church treasurer for many years and helped with the building expansion in the nineteen sixties.

Wilferd attended the Orient public schools. After graduation from the eighth grade he worked on the family farm, helped other farm families and worked for his uncles in Minnesota.

Wilferd was inducted into the US Army on June 20, 1941. After completing training in California he was shipped to Hawaii in September of 1942 where he served until his honorable discharge on October 12, 1945. For his military service he was awarded the Asiatic Pacific medal, the Good Conduct medal and the American Defense Service medal. After his discharge from the Army he farmed with his brothers Rudy, Vernon, Lee and Harold.

Wilferd was a long time member of the Orient American Legion. He moved into the Faulkton Health Care Center in April of 2004 and lived there until the time of his death.

Wilferd is survived by his sister Gladys Danahy of Parker, Colorado; brothers; Delmer (Blanche) of Branson West, Missouri, Burton of Rock Island, Illinois, brother-in-law Winston Johnson of Hector, Minnesota, sister-in-law Deloras Johnson of Carol Stream, Illinois and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Viola, brothers Rudy, Vernon, LeRoy, Harland, Harold and Ralph.

Wilferd was the last of the Johnson legacy that remained in South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers memorials are directed to the Faulkton Area Medical Center, PO Box 100, Faulkton, SD 57438.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Wilferd's arrangements.

MINISTERS
Pastor Robert Chell
Pastor Rob Nedbalek

READER
Bob Johnson

CASKETBEARERS
Stacy Johnson
Roger Raethz
Mark Wahlen
Kevin Johnson
Terry Huss
Matt Schulte
Dale Wilkinson

USHERS
Alden Brown
Mason Brown

ORGANIST
Judy Dixon

SOLOIST
Andrea Evens
"Surely the Presense of the Lord"
"In The Garden"
"I Look Not Back"

CONGREGATIONAL SELECTION
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"