Donald Johnson

Donald L. Johnson of Litchfield died on Friday, September 18, 2009 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Pastors Harvey Nelson and Christian Muellerleile officiating. Visitation will be on Monday, September 21st from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Zion and will continue one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Lake Ripley cemetery in Litchfield with military honors proved by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Donald LaVern Johnson, the son of Myron and Cora (Hanson) Johnson was born on June 4, 1931, on the family farm in rural Benson, Minnesota. He received his education from Benson schools graduating from Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota. He continued his education at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and graduated from the University of Minnesota school of Mortuary Science in 1952. Don served in the US Army from 1952 until 1954. On October 30, 1954, he was united in marriage to Alice Gosselin in Minneapolis. In October of 1960, Don and Alice purchased the Hagglund Funeral home in Litchfield. In 1964 he changed the name to Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home and continued to run the funeral home until he sold it to his son Tim in 1994. Don and Alice spent their time in Litchfield, Lake Koronis and Florida. Don was a member and past president of the Zion Lutheran Church. He was also very active in the community and served on various boards. He was the past president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association, Litchfield Kiwanis, and Sons of Norway. He was active in the Boy Scouts as a leader and also the Litchfield Shrine. Don enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting. He also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends He is survived by his wife Alice Johnson of Litchfield, children; Tim (and Karen) Johnson of Little Falls, Tom (and Kari) Johnson of Parker, CO and Tanja (and Todd) Slack of Colorado Springs, CO, 6 grandchildren; Kristen Johnson, Peter Johnson, Rachel Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Hannah Slack and Carsten Slack. He is also survived by his sisters; Marcia Braaten of Minneapolis, Janice (and Burt) Joul of Jackson, several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. Please sign our on-line guestbook at www.johnsonhagglund.com