Stanley Martin Johnson

Stanley Martin Johnson, 54, died Tuesday, June 8, 2010 after a tough battle with pancreatic cancer first at his home in Sioux Falls and then at Dougherty Hospice House.

He was born in Canby, MN to Donald and Evonne (Hotchkiss) Johnson on October 27, 1955. The family moved to SD when he was young, and he attended his first two years of grade school in Garretson and the next four years at a country school near Shindler. He went to Harrisburg Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1973.

In October 1974, Stan enlisted in the Army, serving for two years. He then worked in the construction industry, with his family and other contractors. In 1986, he began working as a clerk at the US Postal Service, where he’s been ever since. He met his wife, Donna (Miller) there, and they were married on October 6, 1987.

Stan packed a lot of fun into a life that was cut far too short. He loved to golf, and he and Donna took many golfing trips and entered many tournaments together. He had a passion for drag racing his motorcycle, and they went to races in many surrounding states besides his racing at Thunder Valley. He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, and totally enjoyed their trips to Lambeau Field. They also took various trips to watch the LA Lakers, another favorite team of his. They bowled in a couple’s league for many years, and also enjoyed seven fantastic cruises together. He loved his family and was always willing to lend a hand any time he could. He had many friends and will be remembered as someone who loved adding humor to any situation and loved to make people laugh.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, three children, Echoe, Samantha, and Phillip, two granddaughters, Majesta and Katarah, all of Sioux Falls; his mother of rural Canton; three sisters, Carol (Wally) Fee of Sioux Falls, Janet (Larry) Gannon of Dell Rapids, and Roxanne Putnam of rural Canton; four brothers, Greg (Kathy) Johnson of Chancellor, Gar (Karalee) Johnson of Lennox, Kevin Johnson of Sioux Falls, and Leroy (Terri) Johnson of Tea; many nieces, nephews, and in-laws who loved him very much and will deeply miss him. Happy to greet him in Heaven were his dad and four nephews.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church at 12th and Spring in Sioux Falls on June 11, 2010 at 1:00 PM. A visitation will be held at Heritage Funeral Home on Thursday, June 10th from 5-8:00 PM. At 7:00 PM family and friends will be sharing memories in celebration of Stan’s life. The family requests that memorials be made to Avera Hospice.

Minnehaha Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.