Service Information
Frank O. Johnson, age 100, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021, at Ecumen Oaks in Hutchinson.
Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at 1:00 P.M. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hector with interment in Hector City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Hughes-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hector and will continue one hour prior to the service at First Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Memorials are preferred and Frank’s family will give to his favorite charities.
Livestreaming will begin at 12:50 P.M. on First Evangelical Lutheran Church's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1.Lutheran.Hector
Obituary
Frank Owen Johnson was born on April 3, 1921, at the Johnson family farm south of Hector, Minnesota. He was the oldest of six children born to A. Roy and Emma (Lillevig) Johnson. Frank grew up on the family farm, attended country school nearby, and graduated from Hector High School with the class of 1938. He then attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, before joining his father on their family farm. In 1951 Frank moved to a farm in Brookfield Township where Johnson Farms still operates today. He has proudly watched as his grandson, Deron, became the fifth generation Johnson to take up farming and who now runs Johnson Farms. Frank absolutely loved farming, never considered another occupation, and always said he didn’t consider farming to be work. Agriculture has had no greater advocate as he encouraged and helped many who wanted to follow in his footsteps in farming.
Frank was united in marriage to Frances (Babe) VanderVoort on March 15, 1944, at the Church of Hope in Osceola Township. Their 73-year marriage was blessed with three children, Larry, Wayne, and Vicki, eight grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren. Frank and Babe moved to Ecumen Pines Assisted Living, Hutchinson, Minnesota, in 2013.
Frank and Babe considered Lars Olaf (Richard) Lindgren, their son, who spent a year living with them while attending Hector High School. Richard’s four children, Gustaf, Elin, Karl-Axel, and Hanna Yin are their additional grandchildren. Frank and Babe traveled to Sweden several times to visit Richard.
Frank was active in the Hector Church of God and later in the Litchfield Church of God where he provided leadership as an Elder and Sunday School Teacher. Frank served on many Boards including serving as President of the Southern Minnesota Sugar Beet Growers Association. He was a founding board member of the Southern Minnesota Sugar Cooperative where he served as President and Chairman in its formative years. Frank was on the Brookfield Township Board and for several years served on local, state, and national church boards.
Frank will be remembered for the advice, wisdom, humor, and special “sayings” he shared with family, friends, and also nurses and aids at Ecumen Pines and Oaks. He had a special love for horses as he learned to drive horses before he was a teenager. He often said he was glad they knew what they were doing because he didn’t. Frank especially loved his work horses, Mac, and Minnie. Frank was a part of the Greatest Generation and experienced more changes in agriculture than any other previous generation. He drove horses, the first tractors manufactured, and 600 plus horsepower four-wheel drive tractors, as well as seeing men land on the moon! He and Babe were honorary Lifetime Members of the Minnesota Farm Bureau and was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award presented by Pro Ag of Renville County.
Frank passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021, at Ecumen Oaks in Hutchinson, at the age of 100 years.
Blessed be his memory.
Frank is survived by his:
Children, Larry Johnson of Hector, MN and his fiancé, Susan Depew, of Alexandria, MN
Wayne Johnson and his wife, Gwen, of Blomkest, MN,
Vicki Johnson Decker and her husband, Bill, of Blue Ridge, GA;
Grandchildren, Deron Johnson and his wife, Sally, Brian Johnson and his wife Jessica, Jayme Schultz and her husband, Jeremy, Tammy Holm and her husband, Peter, Erin Stevens and her husband, Terry, Amanda Childers and her husband, Mark, Joshua Stone and his wife, Jamie;
Great Grandchildren, Alyssa, Brooke and Carter Johnson, Juliana, Cameron and Vanessa Johnson, Grace, Isabel, Ava and Owen Schultz, Julia, Emma, Erik and Frank Holm, Layla, Emorie and Jaxson Stevens, Miranda, Luke, Ethan and Haley Childers, Miles and Levi Stone;
Brother, Dale Johnson and his wife, Wilma, of Rosemount, MN;
Sister-in-law, Miriam Howard of Annapolis, MD;
Many special nieces, nephews, and wonderful friends.
Frank was preceded in death by his Parents, A.Roy and Emma Johnson; Wife, Frances (Babe) Johnson; beloved Granddaughter, Kimberly Johnson; Daughter-in-law, Kathy Johnson; Brothers, Gordon Johnson, David Johnson, Robert Johnson and his wife, Barbara; Sister, Vivian Drabenstott and her husband, Herman.
The family invites everyone to the luncheon at the Hector Event Center immediately following the committal service.
Memorials are preferred and Frank’s family will give to his favorite charities.
Pat Dillon says
Frank and I shared the same view of each day – He would always tell me ‘Today is a good day’. Rest In Peace Frank. Comfort and Prayers to his family.
Gary Broderius says
Among the many things I learned from Frank is that a man can be pleasant and peaceful as well as stern and decisive. As a young man I treasured the time I could spend with him and always came away wiser. Frank is a man’s man and is now resting in the arms of Jesus. Well done. I am forever grateful for his example!
Joyce Nyhus says
If there were photos in the dictionary, Frank’s would be by the definition of “Gentleman.”
Ellen Oliver says
I had many fond memories out on the farm with Frank and Frances when growing up. I would stay out there for a week every summer. Frank was so special. He will be missed by all. My sympathy to the entire family.
Ellen (Johnson) Oliver
Gary Kallasmae says
Deepest sympathy to all the Johnson family on the death Frank. I have fond memories of Frank and Babe during my stay with you back in 1972/73. I remember particularly Frank’s comittment to getting the Sugar Beet factory up and going. Please know you are all in my thoughts at this sad time. Love and prayers with you all. Gary Kallasmae
Danny Stone says
I extend my heartfelt condolences to all the Johnson family. Frank was a fine man, and I am thankful for the years we had together as a coworker on the farm and as a son to him. He was a very sincere and honest person and did many acts of charity to others that were not known or published. Danny Stone
Dale H Swartz says
Frank was a generous, honest, sincere man of God. I loved and respected him greatly. I really got to know Frank and the type of man he was when I was elected to the Church of God Board of Directors in 1995. Frank was already a seasoned member of the Board of Directors when I came on and I grew to know and appreciate his wisdom. In 1999 I became the pastor of the Litchfield Church of God. At the time of the sad closing of the Hector Church, Frank and Babe began attending the church in Litchfield. I will forever be grateful to have known Frank and discuss the Scriptures with him. I thank God for our lives crossing paths. I praise God for the true hope of the Resurrection. I know I will see Frank again at the coming of Jesus.
Mark Schmid says
I am grateful for all the time spent on the farm with Frank, Larry and Wayne during my summers and falls growing up in Hector. Frank was an amazing man so full of life, energy and love of family, community and organizations he served. Truly a mentor and inspiration for many of us who were fortunate enough to have known him!