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Verland Johnson

Lead Summary

Dr. Verland E. Johnson, 93, Luverne, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. A family graveside service was Saturday, Jan. 22, at North Eden Cemetery near Ihlen.
Verland Eldred Johnson was born on Sept. 7, 1928, to Alfred and Ella (Paulson) Johnson in Moody County, South Dakota. He attended rural school in Moody County and graduated from high school in Jasper in 1946. He then attended Saint Olaf College for three years, interrupted by a one-year stint teaching country school back in Moody County, and then continued his education and attended Dental School at the University of Minnesota, graduating in June of 1954.
On June 28, 1953, Verland married Doris Krapf at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper. Following Verland’s graduation from dental school, the couple left for Clark Field in the Philippines, where Verland was stationed with the 6208 USAF hospital dental services. They lived at Clark Field for two years.
In June 1956 the couple returned and made their home in Luverne, where Verland practiced dentistry until 1992. While living in Luverne, they were blessed with three children, Timothy, Paul and Sarah.
Doris was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1995 and died on Nov. 22, 2003. Verland continued living in their home until July 2020, when he became a resident at the Good Samaritan Society - Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
Verland was a longtime member, officer and president of the Southern District of the Minnesota Dental Association. He was elected to the Luverne School Board and served as president for over 10 years. He also served on the Luverne Community Hospital board, serving as board chairman. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow for Rotary International. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne and served as superintendent of Sunday School, elder, council member and director of the annual children’s Christmas program.
He was also a ribbon-winning painter and walleye fisherman.
Verland is survived by two sons, Timothy (Mary) Johnson of Shakopee; and Paul (Brenda) Johnson of Luverne and their children Seth (Cali) Johnson (children Waylon and Weston), Elizabeth Johnson, and Ethan Johnson; his daughter, Sarah Johnson (Allison Kirschenmann) of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada; a sister-in-law, Marjorie Hey; and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; his parents; two brothers, Arlen and Norris (Shirley) Johnson; brother-in-law Dean Krapf (Ann); grandson Peter Johnson; and two nephews, Kerry Johnson and Michael Krapf.
Arrangements are provided by the Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(0127 F)

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