Donovan Johnson, 72, a resident of Otttertail, passed away on September 1, 2006, at Pallative Care in Fargo, ND.
He was born June 17, 1934, in Minneapolis, to Rueben P. and Helen (Hansen) Johnson. He grew up on the family farm near Gwinner, ND and graduated from the Gwinner High School in 1952.
On December 14, 1960, he married Janice Zimmerli, at the Lutheran Church in Webster, SD. Together they farmed on the family farm which was started by his great grandfather Ole Johnson. His great grandmother Ingeborg Johnson was the first white woman to live in Sargent County, North Dakota.
Donovan farmed until his retirement in 1992, when they moved to Ottertail, Minnesota where he lived until the present time. He was much loved and appreciated for his involvement at G.A. Lutheran Church in Gwinner and Zion Lutheran Church in Amor, and his civic acts in both communities.
He is survived by his wife Janice of 46 years; children Carol Hendrickson, Allan Johnson, and Mitch Johnson all of Fargo, ND, Thomas (Renae) Johnson of Ottertail, Beth Johnson of West Fargo, ND; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Bonnie (Dennis) Orn of Babbitt, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant brother, Richard.
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Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Monday, September 4 with a 6 pm prayer service at Olson Funeral Home. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 10:30 am Tuesday, September 5 at Zion Lutheran Church in Amor.
Clergy: Reverend James Gronbeck and Intern Jody Houge
Interment: Gwinner Cemetery, Gwinner, ND at 2:45 PM
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
OLSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 711 Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls MN 56537, Office: (218) 736-7586, Fax: (218) 739-3485, Toll free: (800) 530-8937, Email: info@olsonfuneralhome.com
