John Hansen Johnson (1870-1946)

JOHNSON, PETERSON, JERGENSON, JORGENSEN, MERKEL, HOLM

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/29/2018 at 19:04:00

From Nevada Evening Journal December 17, 1946 (page 3)

Last Rites for Mrs. John H. Johnson Held on Saturday

Story City, Dec. 17 -- Funeral services were held in the Grace Evangelical United Brethren church on Saturday afternoon December 14, at 2 o'clock for John H. Johnson of Story City. A prayer service was held at his home northwest of town at 1:30.

Casket bearers were neighbors and friends of the deceased, namely; George W. Sowers, Orville J. Olson, T. Z. Henryson, John L. Anderson, Hans S. Nelson and Harvye Skeie. Interment was made in Center cemetery southwest of town.

Two selections were sung at the church service, "Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown" and "No Night There," by the quartet, Mrs. John Adduci, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Anderson and Arnold Anderson.

Rev. W. E. Ulrich officiated at the service and read the following obituary:

John Hansen Johnson was born at Veile, Denmark, March 26, 1870, and died at the Iowa Methodist hospital in Des Moines, after less than 24 hours illness, on December 11, 1946, at the age of 76 years, 8 months and 16 days.

John H. Johnson came to America in 1889 at the age of nineteen years, coming directly to the Story City community where he first lived with his uncle Fred Peterson on the Oppedal farm east of Story City. Later he farmed for six years, six mile north of Jewell. In 1897 he was married to Hanna Jergenson who died within a few months after their marriage. In 1900, "John H." as he was best known, returned to the Story City community. In 1902 he was untied in marriage to Minnie Merkel. At this time he purchased a farm 2 1/2 mile northwest of Story City where he settled with his bride and lived the remainder of his life.

Two children were born to this union, both of whom died in infancy. In March 1909 Mr. and Mrs. John H. Johnson adopted Helge G. Johnson, the son of John H. Johnson's sister, at the age of ten. Mrs. Johnson died July 3, 1934.

John H was confirmed in Denmark. He joined the Grace Evangelical church (now Grace Evangelical United Brethren church) in 1916 under the pastorate of Rev. C. D. Wendell, of which church he was for many years trustee and the services and special activities of which church he attended faithfully to his death. He was present at the annual election meeting last week and in his regular place in the service last Sunday morning. John was active in community affairs. He was president of the Farmers Grain Company at the time of his death. He will be missed in many community circles in days to come.

In addition to those already mentioned, John was preceded in death by several sisters in Denmark.

Those who survive his death are a brother, David Johnson of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, possibly a brother in Denmark, his adopted son, Helge G. Johnson and Mrs. Helge Johnson and their children, Mrs. Vera Holm, Richard and Marlys, all of Story City and host of other relatives and friends.

The poem "Now the Labourer's Task Is O'er," (John Ellerson, 1871) was read at the funeral service as a fitting close to the life story of Mr. Johnson.