VerDean Johnson

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 28, 2008

VerDean Johnson, 63
VerDean Emery Johnson, 63, of Welch, Minn., died tragically in a motorcycle accident in Brownsville, Texas on March 29, 2008.
He was born Jan. 29, 1945, in Salina, Kan. to Emery and LaVonne Johnson. VerDean grew up in Austin. As a young boy, he delivered newspapers for the Austin Daily Herald and the Sunday St. Paul Pioneer Press, making sure to hit every doorstep. During his teenage years, he perfected his cooking skills while working at the Main St. Café. He graduated from Austin High School in 1963. He graduated from Austin Jr. College and moved to the Twin Cities where he attended the University of Minnesota. He married Latisha Hanson on March 10, 1967. They lived for many years in St. Paul, Minn., while raising their family. He was a retired electrical engineer for Gillette. He and his wife Latisha were enjoying their retirement years and celebrated 41 years of marriage in March, 2008. He enjoyed traveling boating, camping and fishing. He loved spending time with family and friends. He was a loving husband, a wonderful father, a beloved son, a terrific brother and a caring friend. Everyone who knew him loved his witty charm and good nature. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Latisha; son, Daniel (Robbin) Johnson, Bremerton, Wash.; two daughters, Amy (Chris) Johnson, Hastings, Minn., and Pam (Rory) Small, Hastings, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Oban, Jura, Clayton, Reilly, Mitchell, Abigail, and Deanna; father, Emery Johnson, Austin; two brothers, Keith C. Johnson, Austin and Mark R. (Diane) Johnson, Minnetonka, Minn.; five sisters: Christine (Michael) Smith, Rochester, Minn., Diane (Donald) Olson, Austin, Rhonda (Jerry) Rosenthal, Fremont, Neb., Carole (Bruce) Augustin, Austin and Rita (Tom) Rieffer, Dickenson, Texas; many nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Darlene Hanson, Austin and brother-in-law, Harold (Diane) Hanson, Anoka, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his mother, LaVonne Johnson and father-in law, Al Hanson.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2008, at 2 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin.