Charles "Chuck" James Johnson

Charles "Chuck" James Johnson, age 95, of Dell Rapids, formerly of Flandreau, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Dells Nursing & Rehab in Dell Rapids. A time to greet the family will be from 2-3:30 PM Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids, with a memorial service beginning at 3:30 PM. Interment will be at a later date at Union Cemetery, Flandreau, SD.

Charles “Chuck” James Johnson was born on May 15, 1930, to James O. and Myrtle (Hanson) Johnson in Flandreau, South Dakota. He graduated from Flandreau High School in 1949. Chuck was a good athlete and excelled in all sports including football, basketball, and track and was later inducted into the Flandreau High School Hall of Fame. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He received a full ride scholarship to the University of Nebraska to play football but was called up to service. He served in the Army National Guard from September 22, 1946 (he lied about his age) through his active-duty deployment (September 1, 1950-October 1954). He was stationed in Alaska during the Korean War and said afterwards that he never wanted to be cold again! On September 25, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, Caroline Gilmore.

For 43 years, Chuck and his wife owned and operated what used to be Red Owl and then became Chuck’s Foodland Grocery Store in Flandreau. He loved golfing, bowling, and playing cards. Chuck and Caroline spent many winters in sunny and warm Arizona.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Caroline, Dell Rapids; children: Pam Nissen (Mike Mayes) and children, Tracy, Jodie, Kelly, and Amanda; Patricia and Richard Hinricher and children, Bridget and Ryan; Rick and Deb Johnson and children, Stacy, Sarah, and Josh; Beth and Ed Sechser and children, Alan and Craig; and Darcy and Steve Utech and children, Abby and Lexy. They also had numerous great and great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Myrtle Johnson, brothers, Ralph Johnson and Roger Johnson, sister, Leanne Albers, and in-laws, Herbert and Eva Gilmore.