Walter LeRoy Johnson (March 6, 1921 ~ November 23, 2011) Walter LeRoy Johnson was born March 6, 1921, in Stony Run Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, to Carl and Annie (Dahl) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Stony Run. As a young man, he worked on the farm. Walter served in the United States Army during WWII fighting in France and Germany serving the 182FA BN, serving in the Normandy Invasion, Northern France Rhineland and Central Europe. In 2002 he received the Normandy Jubilee of Liberty metal from the French Government thanking the veterans for saving France from Germany. He was a member of the VFW in Granite Falls and Clarkfield American Legion. Following his discharge he worked in road construction and building construction of the Northern States Power Company near Granite Falls. He married Mae I. Opager of Boyd, Minnesota, at Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage in Montevideo, Minnesota. Three children were born to this union: Lon Walter, Cynthia Mae and Nancy Ellen. The family lived in the Granite Falls-Stony Run area. They owned and operated the Johnson Station on Highway 212 between Granite Falls and Montevideo for several years before moving to Clarkfield where Walter worked at the Clarkfield Drying Plant and Coast to Coast Store before the family moved to St. Paul in 1966. He worked from 1966 to 1986 as the building and grounds supervisor for two schools in St. Paul: Our Lady of Peace High School and William Mitchell College of Law. He retired from William Mitchell in 1986. Walter and Mae moved to Clear Lake, Minnesota, and had a home on the lake and lived there until moving back to Clarkfield in 1995. The family loved coming to their place and spent many joyful hours fishing and riding in the pontoon. They enjoyed going to Mesa, Arizona, each winter for 21 years. Walter was a great handy man and was always willing to help his family and others when projects needed to be done. Walter passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at the Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital at the age of 90 years, 8 months and 17 days. He is survived by his wife Mae Johnson of Clarkfield; daughters: Cynthia Jorgensen of Lakeville, Minnesota, and Nancy Chasteen of Clarkfield, Minnesota. He is also survived by grandchildren: Michael Nugent (Anissa), Shawn Chasteen (Spring), Preston Chasteen, Eric Jorgensen and Andrew Jorgensen; great grandchildren: Ryan Michael Nugent, Chloe Mae and Pagie Alexia Chasteen; sister-in-law, Stella Anderson; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Lon; his parents; sister, Mildred Odegard; and brothers: Gordon and Clifford. Celebrating the Life of Walter L. Johnson Visitation Monday, November 28, 2011 ~ 12:30-1:30 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Memorial Service Monday, November 28, 2011 ~ 1:30 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Clergy Officiating Pastor Steve Weston Organist, Bill Houston Special Music, David Rupp Honorary Urn Bearers (grandsons) Michael Nugent ~ Shawn Chasteen ~ Preston Chasteen Eric Jorgensen ~ Andrew Jorgensen Military Rites J. Ben Johnson Post Clarkfield, Minnesota Final Resting Place Stony Run Cemetery, Stony Run Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota