Curtis Johnson

Curtis Hilding Johnson was born on July 16, 1925 in Clarkfield, Minnesota, the son of Heimer and Alice Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1943 and farmed for a year before enlisting in the Army in 1944. Curtis was a proud veteran of World War II where he was stationed on the Pacific Islands of Pelelui and Siapan. He attained the rank of Sergeant Technician 4th grade and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. Upon his return from service in 1946, he continued farming with a good friend, Boyd Long, near Clarkfield. He married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Steenson, on March 27, 1948. They lived and raised their family on their farm near Clarkfield until they moved to Montevideo in 1975 and then to Granite Falls in 2015. He continued to farm in the area until 2001. Curtis loved to travel having traveled to places such as Russia, China, Europe and Cuba. He especially enjoyed his trip to Sweden where he revisited his cousins and their families. He enjoyed working on his computer including transferring old family pictures and movies to CDs and DVDs. Curtis loved music of all kinds. His entire family have memories of him sitting at the piano or organ playing and singing. He greatest joy was being with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Curtis passed away on May 24, 2017, surrounded by his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, who had passed away just 12 days earlier, his parents, and one sister, Vernetta. He is survived by one daughter Cyndi (Don) Lattimore of St. Paul, MN; one son Kurt (Patty) Johnson of Granite Falls, MN.; seven grandchildren: Marni (Greg) Nygard, Kristian (Missy) Lattimore, Adam (Mandy) Johnson, Matt (Alyssa) Johnson, Dana Johnson, Brianna (Brennan) Nordstrom and Alyssa Doty and nine great grandchildren: Amelia and Julia Nygard, Amaya, Harlow and Weston Lattimore, Gavin Jacobsen, Grayson and Jasaya Johnson and Ryker Nordstrom, two brothers, James (Nona) Johnson, Alvern (Karen) Johnson and one sister Norma (Erling) Anderson.