Howard B. Johnson

Aberdeen - Howard B. Johnson, 74, of Aberdeen, S.D., died Monday, May 26, 2003, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1620 Milwaukee Ave. N.E., in Aberdeen at 2 p.m., with Pastor Ronald Jensen officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery in Aberdeen. Schriver's Memorial Mortuary is handling the arrangements. He was born on March 25, 1929, in Aberdeen, S.D., and was adopted through the Children's Home Society at the age of 3 months by Edwin O. and Leda C. Johnson of Aberdeen. He started working in his father's business, E.O. Johnson Motor Company, by age 14. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1947, and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1947. He attended Grinnell College prior to General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich., graduating in 1950, when he joined his father's business as service manager. In 1951 he was honorably discharged from the National Guard. Howard married Jerauldine M. Dilly in Aberdeen on October 9, 1949, where they made their home for the rest of their lives. In the community, he was involved in many organizations and services, including: one of the founders of the Aberdeen Boys and Girls Club, President of the Cosmopolitan Club, Board Member and Treasurer several times of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador for the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, Aberdeen Jaycees, Royal Order of the Gyps, was named "King of the Gyps" in 1967, and was named "Frosty the Snowman" by the Aberdeen Jaycees in 1970. He was deeply involved in the Yelduz Shrine, the Masonic Order, and the Aberdeen Elks Lodge. He served as Exalter Ruler of the Aberdeen Elks Lodge in 1990, following in his father's footsteps. In recent years, he helped with the building of the new Elks Lodge. In recent years he had served on the board of the Brown County Historical Society and Museum. Service to his community and support for the local economy were the cornerstones of his beliefs. He also supported the Salvation Army, Ducks Unlimited, United Way, Boy Scouts, Northern State University and many other groups. Music was very important in his life. After high school, he played with the Johnny Cacavas Band for a while, and performed with the Aberdeen City Band for many years, playing clarinet and alto saxophone. He performed for many years with the Elks Band, the Yelduz Shrine Rhinelanders Band, and even performed until recently with the Yelduz Shrine Band. He formed a Fine Arts (or Business) scholarship fund recently. He was committed to the charitable work of the Masonic Order and the Shrine, and had achieved 50-year membership status with the Masons, the Scottish Rite and the Shrine. He was also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. He was proud of the work of the Shrine Hospitals, and had been involved with the "Road Runners" transporting children and their families to the Shrine Hospital in Minneapolis. He was a lifetime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. His work and initiative lead to the development of the Auto Plaza, and the construction of a new Johnson Motors dealership building opening in 1972. In 1969, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Aberdeen National Bank, and served on it for many years, now US Bank. Politically, he was involved with the Brown County Republican Party, having served as its Treasurer. In 1968, he drove Richard Nixon on a campaign stop to Aberdeen. Professionally, he served on several General Motors Presidential Dealer Advisory Councils, including service in 1970 and 1978, and served on Cadillac's National Dealer Advisory Board. The Nissan Award of Merit was also awarded to him in 1985. In 1978, he was elected to serve as President of the South Dakota Automobile Dealers Association, and stayed involved with them until recent years. His initiative lead to the formation of the South Dakota Automobile Dealers Education Trust Fund. In 1980-81, he was the South Dakota Quality Dealer of the Year, awarded by the S.D. Automobile Dealers Association, and selected nationally as the regional winner of the Time Quality Dealer Award. He and the dealership were awarded the Oldsmobile Merit Award for 20+ years in a row, which was quite a distinction. Commitment to his customers and a high level of customer service permeated his business and personal life. In 1992, he retired from active work as President of Johnson Motors Company, turning over the reins to his son, Rolf. The Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA) invited him to membership in the early 1980s. This unique opportunity permitted him to travel all over the world for several years with this group to get an inside view of the world situation, and to discuss it from his perspective when he returned home. He also traveled all over the world with his wife, and took the whole family to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary in 1999. He studied all of the places he went and shared his learning with others. He is survived by five children: Julie M. Johnson (Bryan Hisel), Pierre and Mitchell, S.D.; Anita Johnson (Leo) Gwin, Hickory, N.C.; Diane L. Johnson (Terry) Simon, Aberdeen, Scotland; Rolf E. (Valerie) Johnson, Aberdeen; Karen Johnson (Mike) Fergen, Grand Island, Neb.; four grandchildren: Bruce S. Johnson, Eva M. Johnson, and Sara L. Johnson of Aberdeen, and Ciera Marie Fergen, Grand Island, Neb.; two step-grandchildren: David (Tanya) Hisel, Mitchell, S.D., and Angela K. Hisel, New York City, N.Y.; two step-great grandchildren, Tessa and Teya Hisel, Mitchell; a sister-in-law, Darlene A. Kelzer, New Prague, Minn.; two nieces Linda Kelzer (Rob) Wagner, Jordan, Minn., Janet Kelzer (Daryl) Bauer, New Prague, Minn.; and four great-nieces and nephews: Joe and Jennifer Wagner, Jordan, Minn., and David and Emily Bauer, New Prague, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 52 years. Pallbearers will be Bryan Hisel, Leo Gwin, Terry Simon, Mike Fergen, Walt Rathke, and Ray Bain. Honorary pallbearers will be member of the Yelduz Shrine Band. Memorials may be given to the Johnson Motor Company-Howard B. Johnson Scholarship Fund, or the Children's Home Society.