Orville C. Johnson age 91 of Detroit Lakes, MN died September 30, 2017 at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit Lakes, MN.
Orville Clair Johnson was born November 11, 1925 in Detroit Lakes, MN to Andrew and Emma Okeson Johnson. He attended Country School in rural Detroit Lakes and then attended Detroit Lakes High School, graduating in 1943. He then served in the United States Marine Corp. from 1944 – 1946 during WWII. He served in the Pacific Theater, where he was wounded in Okinawa. He spent his final seven months in Peking, China during the Liberation. He then attended Moorhead State College and worked in the Fargo – Moorhead area for propane gas companies. In 1950 he was united in marriage to Evelyn Pearson in Detroit Lakes, MN. They made their home in Detroit Lakes and he started a thirty five year career with the Minnesota Highway Dept. He was united in marriage to Kathleen Hennis in 1979. He retired in 1985 and he and Kathy spent winters in Mesa, AZ until 2014.
He was a member of the VFW, Cooties, American Legion, Marine Corp. League, Order of the Purple Heart, Eagles, and Elks. He was also at one time very active at Trinity Lutheran Church, serving on the Church Council and as President.
Orville is survived by his wife Kathy; one daughter, Janell (Phil) Teig, of Bemidji, MN; one step son, David (Terrie) Hennis, of Detroit Lakes, MN; three step daughters, Cindy (Dave) Olmscheid, of Surprise, AZ; Nancy (James) Vareberg, of Walker, MN; and Jane (Tim) Hagen, of Eugene, OR; nine grandchildren; and twenty great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn (1962); two brothers; six sisters; and his parents.
