Fred Johnson

JOHNSON RASMUSSEN JOHANSEN DICKEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/15/2010 at 20:56:15

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Fred Johnson
By Leslyn Johnson

My dad’s father, Frederik Carl Christian Johansen, came from Denmark where he served in the army at Nom-538y Battalion 3 KomP Nyberg. He came to America in 1893, living first in Sergeant Bluff. My granddad worked in Sioux City. My grandma, Ane Helene Rasmussen, came from Langland, Denmark in 1893. She worked at Hotel Davenport in Sioux City. My grandparents were married December 1, 1894, in Sioux City, and farmed near Bronson. They then moved to Lawton where they farmed the rest of their lives. My grandparents came here because Ane’s two brothers were here. They came here by boat and railroad to Sioux City.

My granddad on my mother’s side, George Dickey, was born in Pipestone, Minnesota, and moved to Kimball, South Dakota, at the age of twelve. He worked for his uncle. He loved horses and rode in rodeos in South Dakota and Montana. He joined the army and was stationed on the Mexican border until WWI broke out; he was sent overseas in 1918. He then came back and lived in Murdo, South Dakota, with his nephew. He married, my grandma, Edith Mae Range in Freeborn, Minnesota. They lived in Sioux City until the early 1930’s, moving to Murdo. My granddad ran a sheep ranch. My grandma ran a country hospital in Murdo. They moved back to Sioux City in 1941, living over a bakery at Cecelia Park. My granddad worked for the Serum Company. Grandma worked in the newborn nursery at the Methodist Hospital for many years. She was known as ‘Grandma Dick’ at the hospital. They later moved to a home on Lakekport Road, where they lived until they died in 1959 and 1977, respectively.

My dad, Fred Carl Johnson, Jr, was born in a chicken house at Bronson, Iowa, on February 14, 1904. At that time, the only building on the farm was a house that had been used originally for chickens, and had been fixed up as a temporary home. He went to the country school two miles from home.

My mother, Virginia Marie Dickey, was born at Hinton, Iowa, moving to Murdo, South Dakota, as a baby. She removed to Sioux City in 1941 with her family. She graduated from East High School and Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. During and after high school, she worked for Steele Simon Company. She also worked for many years as ‘flower girl’, cleaning girl, etc, at the hospital before going to nurse’s training.

My parents, Fred and Virginia Johnson were married October 16, 1952, in Sioux City, and lived on a farm near Lawton. My sister Maeane Marie was born in Lawton before they moved to Sioux City two years later. They live on Lakeport Road. My dad worked at Allied Serum Company, Michael’s Garden Center, Sunnybrook Nursery, and Fimco where he retired. My mother worked for several years at Lutheran Hospital and Sunrise Manor. My sister, Maeane, graduated from East High and Idaho State University School of Nursing, and now works in Phoenix, Arizona. I also graduated from East High School and Morningside College, and now live and work in Scottsdale, Arizona.