ARTHUR "ART" HAROLD JOHNSON, age 80, of Luverne, died Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Society in Luverne. He was born February 28, 1944, in Viborg, SD, to Harold and Eleanor (Christensen) Johnson. He grew up and lived around various South Dakota towns in the area. Art spent most of his summers at his uncle Selmer and Dorothy's near Sherman, SD. He attended country school until 8th grade. He began high school in Garretson, SD before attending Luverne High School. Art worked for various farmers growing up; and worked for Leroy Johnson near Garretson and then for Bob Johnson near Luverne. He also helped build I 90 near Luverne.

In 1961, he joined the United States Navy the age of seventeen. He was honorably discharged after nine weeks due to health issues. Art then moved to Sherman, SD and worked for his uncle, Selmer.

Art met and married Patricia Korthals in 1967. The couple were married for thirty years and raised two kids before life took them in separate ways. Art then worked for Elmer Veldkamp on the farm near Jasper. He later moved to George, IA and worked as an over the road trucker. Art moved to Magnolia and worked for Jack Cragoe for thirteen years. He bought an acreage and milked a few cows for a few years. He retired at the age of sixty three. He moved to Luverne and shared a life and home with Rhonda Swanson until he moved to the Mary Jane Brown Home in June of 2021.

He enjoyed working on model trains, going to tractor pulls and running his own Model A-39 John Deere, riding around the country and telling a good joke.

Art is survived by his daughter, Marie (Mark) Opheim, Hills; daughter-in-law, Sandy Johnson, Luverne; four grandchildren, Heath Wallenberg, Jeremy (Tara) Wallenberg, Eric (Dawn) Kooistra and Kristen (Justice) Mews; fifteen great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Donny Johnson, Valley Springs, SD; and two sisters, Marilyn Madison, Adrian; and Darlene Nagel, Adrian.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Greg Johnson; and three brothers, David, Merlyn and Dennis Johnson.

A time of fellowship will be from 4-8 pm Tuesday, June 4, with a celebration of life at 6 pm, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. A private family burial will be in the Holland Cemetery, in Centerville, SD, at a later date.