Craig Johnson

Loveland, Ohio – Craig William Johnson, a beloved husband and father, a coach and mentor to many and a pretty fine golfer, died Oct. 20, 2025, at age 78.

Craig was born April 11, 1947, to Dan and Jeanne (Gordon) Johnson in Hendricks, Minn. His parents met in Europe during World War II and were married in Antwerp, Belgium. Jeanne, who served in the Canadian Women’s Army, was from Liverpool, England.

Craig was raised in Brookings, S.D., where he graduated from Brookings High School and attended South Dakota State University.

He served in the South Dakota National Guard, and spent several months helping with the emergency response and cleanup following the catastrophic 1972 Rapid City flood.

He married Judy Anderson in 1969, and they welcomed two children, Scott and Kelly. Craig shared a love of football and baseball with Scott. Saturday was game day for them, rooting for the Jacks, the Huskers, the Vikings and eventually the Reds. Craig was a fan of the underdog. He volunteered for nearly 20 years as a junior football coach in Sioux Falls, S.D. He drove Kelly to youth tennis tournaments all over the Great Plains.

He and Judy enjoyed trips to the Pacific Northwest, Washington, DC, and Maine, to visit with the kids. They lived for a few years in St. Augustine, Florida. They loved live music, including a recent Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan concert. Last summer, Craig taught Kelly to play cribbage, a game he learned from his grandfather.

Craig grew up in a newspaper family, but he struck out into the business world. In the early years, he sold insurance, computer systems and high-end optical technology. He joined Citigroup in his 50s and eventually led teams that developed and tested the bank’s proprietary technology. He retired from Citi and took his IT know-how to Fifth Third, a bank based in Cincinnati. Craig was affable, quick-witted and had friends from all walks of life.

Craig, an avid golfer, stopped keeping score in his 50s -- and friends said he played his best rounds later in life. If golf wasn't fun, he said, it wasn't worth playing. He was a simple guy who liked a good burger off the grill. His wife and children will miss him very much.

Memorial donations would be welcomed to South Dakota Junior Football or the Wounded Warrior Project.