Eldon R. Johnson

Eldon R. Johnson, 86, of rural Hartford died Friday, November 6, 2009 at Golden Living Covington Heights.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at Benton Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Burial will be in the Benton Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:30 to 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the church.

Eldon was born October 22, 1923 in Sioux Falls to parents Rudolph and Hildur Johnson. He grew up in the Crooks-Hartford area on the family farm. He attended and graduated from Hartford High School.

Eldon married Joyce Nelson on January 28, 1945 at Grand Valley Lutheran Church rural Canton. After their marriage they lived and farmed in the Crooks-Hartford area.
Eldon was baptized and confirmed at Benton Lutheran Church, where he was a lifelong member, serving on the church council, directing the choir and was instrumental in starting the Men in Mission at Benton.

He was active as a 4-H leader, served on the Sioux Falls Chamber Agri-Business division, served as chairman of the 1979 Sioux Empire Farm Show, and President and board member of SD Charolais Breeders. He also applied soil conservation practices to his land and farming operation. He served as a board of director of the Sioux Empire Fair and was a supervisor for Benton Township. He sang in the Norse Glee Club Choir and was a member of the Sons of Norway.

In 1963 Eldon saw Charolais cattle at the South Dakota State Fair and with his son Ronald purchased their first Charolais cattle and started Lilac Crest Charolais Farms, selling Charolais across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Joyce Johnson, Hartford; a son Ronald Johnson, Hartford; two daughters and their husbands, Rhonda and Greg Lofstedt, Iowa Falls, Iowa; Julaine and Ron Duimstra, Marshalltown, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Angela (David) Graham, Amber Duimstra, Ashlee Duimstra, Amy Lofstedt, Brooks (Alisha) Lofstedt, Prentice Lofstedt, Lindsey Lofstedt, and Brent Lofstedt, four great grandchildren, August Graham, Peter Graham, Wilson Lofstedt, and Macy Lofstedt;
a brother and his wife, Vernell and Louise Johnson, Lyons; and a sister, Laurine Ustrud, Sioux Falls and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded by his parents and an infant sister.