James Johnson

James Lawrence Johnson was born the fourth of six children on July 22, 1944 to Earl and Elsie (Kruse) Johnson in Lyon County, Iowa. Jim received his confirmation on May 25, 1958 at First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, South Dakota. He was raised on multiple farms in southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa before graduating from Jasper High School in Jasper, Minnesota in 1963. After graduation, Jim enlisted in the Army National Guard. After his honorable discharge, he married Wendy Anderson in 1969. They had two daughters and later divorced. Jim was a career truck driver. He began his career hauling milk but switched to a local egg route. During the 1980’s he purchased his own trucking business. Prior to his retirement he returned to hauling milk for Roos Trucking. Jim lived in Luverne, Minnesota from 1969 until his death. On Tuesday, October 29, 2024 Jim passed away at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 80 years, 3 months, and 7 days. 

Jim was a member of the United Methodist Church in Luverne. He enjoyed driving the countryside, coffee and drinks with friends, and was a huge Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings fan. Jim loved animals. He was known to feed the gophers and ducks at Schoneman Park as well as the birds and squirrels at his home. 

Jim is survived by his daughters, Phoebe (Michael) Flom of Luverne, and Robyn Flick of Minneapolis, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Keegan Schoenfelder, Bergin Flom, and Madigan Flom; and sisters, Roberta McKibbin of Denver, Colorado, and Darlene Eeten of Rock Rapids, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Johnson; mother, Elsie Johnson; brothers, Rodney, Marlow, and Donald; and niece, Melanie Kenney.

 Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.