Alton Curtis Johnson

Alton C. Johnson, 86, of Lyons died Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Dells Area Health Center.

Funeral services will begin at 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at Benton Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Burial will be in the Benton Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Tuesday at the church.

Alton Curtis Johnson was born March 4, 1923 on the family farm near Crooks to parents Adolph and Ida (Jensen) Johnson. He grew up in the Crooks area and attended Crooks Grade School, Crooks High School and later graduated from Lyons Consolidated High School in 1941. After his education he was employed for a time at a defense plant in California.

On November 3, 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served in the Central Pacific area during World War II. He was honorably discharged on November 2, 1945 as a Sergeant. After his discharge he spent a short time in Alaska before he returned to Crooks, where he engaged in farming. In 1974 he began employment with the Minnehaha County Highway Department until his retirement in 1988.

Alton was united in marriage to Carol Jean Darling at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls on July 6, 1962. They lived on a farm northeast of Sioux Falls before moving into Lyons in 1975. Carol died March 23, 2002.

Alton was baptized and confirmed at Benton Lutheran Church, where he was a life long member.

Survivors include, a son, Kyle Johnson, Lyons; two daughters, Pam (Mike) Anderson, Crooks; Cindy (Pat) Johnson, Madison; four grandchildren, Joseph & Bobby Austin, Mitch & Codie Boysen; four great grandchildren, Parker & Tanner Austin, Tate & Cora Boysen; two brothers, Clifford (Darlene) Johnson, and Glenn Johnson, both of Sioux Falls; a sister, Ella (Larkin) Person, Sioux Falls; his father in law, John Bresser, Sioux Falls and a sister in law, Judy Elbers, Sioux Falls.

He was preceded by his wife Carol, his parents; sisters, Evelyn Person and Lois Satter.