Kenneth Clarence Johnson

Kenneth Clarence Johnson, age 89 years and 11 months, passed away with members of his family at his side at the Red Cedar Medical Center in Menomonie on Monday, Oct. 5, 2009.

Kenneth was born Oct. 16, 1919, on the family farm in the town of Stanton to Victor and Eva May (Burton) Johnson, the second of 10 children. He was raised on that same farm on Irish Ridge just north of Knapp and attended grade school with his brothers and sisters at the Pleasant Dale School.

Ken met his wife, Violet May Knight, and they were married in a double wedding on July 5, 1941. The Dunn County News described the day as follows: "A beautiful double wedding, the first ever held in Knapp, was solemnized in the Methodist church Saturday evening, July 5 at 8 o'clock by Rev. F.C. Page where Delma Rose Fortin became the bride of Woodrow W. Weber and Violet Knight the bride of Kenneth C. Johnson." Delma and Violet were sisters.

Ken and Violet farmed for many years just west of his home, still on Irish Ridge. They raised three children: Nancy Legner, Apache Junction, Ariz.; Phyllis (Tom) Cook, Elk Mound; and Bruce, Chippewa Falls.

He enjoyed carpentry and could really build some mighty fine stairs. Golfing with his grandchildren and friends was very important to Ken and he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren deeply.

Ken was preceded in death by his loving wife, Violet; by his parents; many aunts, uncles and other relatives; and by four brothers, Milo "Mike" Edgar Johnson, Marvin Victor Johnson, Glenn "Jack" Burton Johnson, and Larry "Butch" Russell Johnson; by two sisters, Evelyn Violet Nielsen and Ruby Darlene Wold; one sister-in-law, Delma Rose (Fortin) Weber; and five brothers-in-law, Glen Elliot Kirk, James Dean Berger, Dale Kenneth Wold, Henry "Hank" Harold Knight, and  Raymond Howard Knight.

Ken is survived by his aunt, Carrie (Burton) Kussrow; three sisters, Viola Ruthie Kirk, Joyce Irene (Jack) Schultz and Margaret Adeline (Joseph) Leverty; one brother-in-law, Don Mills; four sisters-in-law, Betty Schlough, Margaret Holzhueter, May Parnell and Esther Heifner; all of his children; his grandchildren, Theresa Louise (Doug) Gillis, Krista Marie (Morgan) Cline (children of Nancy), Angela Rae (Jon) Fedie, Barry Thomas (Emily) Cook (children of Phyllis), Becky Jeanne (Chris) Gumz, Aaron James Johnson, Ryan Thomas (Maryann) Freid (children of Bruce); his great-grandchildren Rhett, Bryce, Marissa, Ethan, Spencer, Evan, Grant, Abigail and Brady; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends, including Joe Feeney.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Friday, Oct. 9, from 1 to 2 p.m., with funeral services beginning at 2 p.m., all at the Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery near Knapp.

To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com.