Wendell LeRoy Johnson

Wendell LeRoy Johnson was born on May 4, 1925, to Herman and Lillian (Swanson) Johnson, one mile east of Vetal, South Dakota on the family homestead. Along with his parents, Wendell grew up with his sister Dorothy (Johnson) Brooks, and brother Lawrence Johnson on the family farm. He walked or rode horse across the prairie to England School with his siblings and his mother who was the teacher. He attended high school in Martin, South Dakota.Wendell met his future wife, Elsie Risse, at a Veterans Day dance on November 11, 1948. Elsie’s brother Ed introduced them to each other. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1953, and was stationed in Salzburg, Austria. Wendell and Elsie were married September 1, 1953. Wendell attended Agricultural College in Martin from 1953-1955.Wendell helped start the Vetal Volunteer Fire Department and was its first fire chief. He was active in the American Legion, ASCS, Lacreek Electric board, county commissioner, and school board. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.Wendell was devoted to Elsie and his family and the farm he loved so much. He loved Elsie’s cooking, a lot. Wendell played baseball for the Vetal baseball team. He enjoyed bowling, pitching horseshoes, playing cards and fishing with his best friend, Jimmie O’Neill, negotiating the terms, “I’ll catch ‘em, you clean ‘em”.Wendell and Elsie have five children, 14 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; Wayne and Karmen (King) Johnson-Nolan, Natalie and Newt Johnson, Patti (Johnson) and John Erpenbach-Andy and Tom Erpenbach, Susan (Johnson) Pribil-Dan and Matt Pribil and Nicole (Pribil) and Trevor Anderson-Grace, Sam, Miles and Ben Anderson, Rod Johnson-Whitney, Grant and Seth Johnson, Meredith (Johnson) and Casey Parker-Everett and Arden Parker, Jeff and Lonna (Ellis) Johnson-Bo and Annie Johnson.Honorary Pall Bearers: Ed Risse, Dave Risse, Chuck Risse, Art McDonald, Jimmie O’Neill, Wayne Livermont, Lawrence Johnson and Glen Brooks.