Dennis H. Johnson, 82, of Lincoln, NE passed away February 8, 2024 at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln NE. He was born May 27, 1941 to Esther Margaret Pearson Johnson and Harold O. Johnson in Schaller, IA. He grew up on a farm and had many good memories of farm life and fishing on nearby lakes with his parents. His family lived on a farm with a creek where he and his friends camped and caught fish. His dad was “an Oliver man” meaning he used Oliver tractors for farm work. This began Dennis’s lifelong love of Oliver toy tractors which he collected as an adult. While the actual number of tractors in his collection is too many to count, a reasonable estimate might be 1500. Dennis was also an avid fan of car racing.
He attended a country school near Schaller, IA. When the family moved, he attended another country school near Odebolt, IA. He finished his elementary schooling in Dickens, IA. He graduated from Spencer High School in Spencer, IA in 1959. He attended Estherville Junior College in 1960-61. In 1964, he received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University, in Ames, IA.
Dennis and Julie Tordoff were married on May 27, 1962 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. They had 62 years of happiness as a married couple.
They were blessed with two children, Darren who was born in Spencer, IA and Darla who was born in Fargo, ND. They remarked that Dennis was the greatest dad ever and would do anything for his kids and grandkids. He was the best babysitter and friend a grandchild could ask for.
After college graduation they moved to Fargo, ND where Dennis was hired as agricultural statistician by the Statistical Reporting Service (SRS), in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dennis’s first duty office was in Fargo, ND, where the family lived from 1964 -1971. Dennis was a hard worker and was focused on supporting his family. After hours, he worked for our landlord who also owned several farms near Fargo. Dennis would go to the farm and drive the tractor from about 6 pm to midnight and earn enough to pay our rent.
In 1972 Dennis was transferred to the Washington, D.C. office. The family home was in Vienna, VA, a D.C. suburb. The family loved to visit the Smithsonian museums and other scenic or historical places.
In 1977 Dennis was transferred to the Lincoln office. There we purchased a boat which began a love of boating, first, in lakes surrounding Lincoln, and in 1999 we purchased time share condos at Lake Okoboji in Iowa. That started the tradition of spending 4 weeks a year at the condos. The entire family has been there every summer since that time and many happy memories have been made.
Dennis retired in 1999 after 35 years of service at the age of 58. He did a lot of carpentry work for Darren and Darla and other odd jobs. In addition, he provided childcare and chauffeuring for his grandchildren to music lessons, school, and other places.
Survivors include his wife Julie, son Darren (Sue) Johnson and Darla (Scott) Sutter, both from Lincoln, NE; grandchildren Holden Sutter, Sioux Falls, SD, Xander Sutter, Logan Sutter, Alex Johnson, all from Lincoln, NE; sister Carol Ann (Robert) Leslie, Longmont, CO; sister-in-law Jean Kruse, Cedar Rapids, IA; brother-in law Henry (Lillian) Tordoff, Sioux City, IA; nieces Laurel Leslie Martin, Longmont, CO; Lisa (Ric Kennedy) Solinger, Altoona, IA; Sheryl Kruse, Cedar Rapids, IA; Marcia Mack, Wheat Ridge, CO; Lois (Randy) Stodola, Cedar Rapids, IA; Marilyn (Kevin) West, Sioux City, IA; nephews Lynton (Rae) Leslie, Mesa AZ; Lance (Bonnie) Leslie, Mesa, AZ; Lyle (Jeri Duke) Leslie, Mesa AZ; Brian (Patty) Kruse, Robins, IA; Bill Tordoff, Sioux City, IA; many great nieces and nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in law, and grandparents.
Dennis’s celebration of life will be at 11 am, Monday, February 19th at Sheridan Lutheran Church, 6955 Old Cheney Road, Lincoln, NE, followed by lunch at noon.
Donations can be made in his name to the (1) Sheridan Lutheran Church Readiness fund for a dedicated community outreach building serving community needs, or the (2) Julie M. and Dennis H. Johnson Fund for the Child, Youth and Family Studies Department (University of Nebraska Foundation Fund #01126530).
