Kenneth Johnson

Monday, October 1, 2018 2:14 pm

Kenneth Johnson, 92, of Decorah, died Sept. 28, 2018, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. Services are at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Madison Lutheran Church, rural Ridgeway, with Pastor Jeff Hansen officiating. Pianist is Cindy Hovey. Hymns are “This Is My Father’s World,” “How Can I Keep From Singing,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “Children of the Heavenly Father.”

Kenneth Amer Johnson was born Nov. 21, 1925, the son of John L. and Betsy (Glain) Johnson in Audubon, Minn. He attended Lake Center Schools through the eighth grade. Kenny’s family lived on an island so in order to get to school, he had to row a boat or ski in the winter time to get to school. He started farming with his family straight out of school. They crop farmed, ran a sawmill and did custom thrashing. Kenny married Irene Hippe Sept. 25, 1949m at the Decorah Lutheran Church. They had a double wedding with Geneva and Bertin Hansen. Geneva was Irene’s first cousin. Kenneth and Irene had two children: Dale and Keith. They farmed together in Audubon for six years before moving to Decorah in 1955, where they continued to farm on Irene’s family farm near Ridgeway. Kenny loved to hunt and fish. He has been on over 40 fishing trips with his buddies. Over the years, Kenny has been involved with many organizations including the Winneshiek County Extension Council, ASCS Board, Winn. Coop Board, Madison Township trustee, 4H leader, Madison Church council, DHIA board and a member of the Iowa Holstein Assoc. In 1991 he was the Winneshiek County Distinguished Dairyman and in 2002 he was the Winneshiek County Pioneer Dairyman.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Irene; two sons, Dale (Nancy) Johnson and Keith (Linda) Johnson; grandchildren: Keri (Brett) Ostby, Heather (Chad) Batterson and Elizabeth Johnson; great-grandchildren: Nadia, Jake, Mason, Lily, Ethan and Annika; sister, Betty Smith.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, John L and Betsy (Glain)
Johnson; brothers: Albert, Peter (Alpha), Walter (Aggie) and Phillip (Ellie); brother-in-law, Berton Smith; along with two nieces and two nephews; father and mother-in-law, Ole and Jalma Hippe.

Interment was at Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home.