A Memorial Service for Valoris “Junior” Johnson, age 90, of Spirit Lake, will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 11:00am,at Seventh Day Adventist Church in Spencer. Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 5:00-7:00pm, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.
Valoris “Junior” Johnson came into this world Jan. 13, 1934, at the family farmhouse that still stands today in rural Spirit Lake, IA. He was the second born child of Valoris and Lucille (Brown) Johnson. He and older sister Elnita “Dolly” had a pleasant childhood filled with good times with cousins, pets and later things with a motor and two wheels. He was raised in an era when children were to be seen and not heard. It was a virtue he carried his whole life. While being a man of wisdom and talent he was content working solidly behind the scenes, not drawing attention to himself and while supporting others. He attended Arnolds Park school through the tenth grade, finishing at Oak Park Academy in Nevada, IA,graduating in 1951. Lifelong treasured friends were made at each.
Following high school, he began farming, renting some land with his cousin Merlin, custom baling, and raising livestock. During this time, he met a beautiful young lady named Carol Jean Hanson and a friendship ensued. Unfortunately, not long thereafter Uncle Sam came calling. The time was post Korean War and he was sent to be part of peacekeeping forces in small town Germany.
Following his time in the service, he was free to pursue two of his dreams. One of those was the previously mentioned Carol Jean, the other was to farm. Farming had been his dream from little on and he did it well. He got in on the tail end of farming with horses and threshing with a crew, followed by early tractors, onward into self-steering computer-controlled tractors and combines, single row corn pickers, and finally to sixteen row combines, adapting to each. His life was also dramatically altered when he was badly injured and lost the use of his right arm in a farming accident on October 29, 1972. During a multi-month recovery stay at Mayo in Rochester,neighbors generously joined together and harvested his crops. Overwhelmed by their generosity, he never forgot their kindness! After the injury he was left with pain in that arm throughout his life, but still he persevered onward, calling the farm his therapy and learning to do things one handed, that many of us struggle to do with two, never complaining.
As for that beautiful lady Carol Jean, they kept in touch throughout his tour reigniting the romance upon his return. Shortly thereafter they were married on July 5, 1959, in Sioux Rapids IA. During Junior’s time in Germany, he had shipped two baby blue VW Beetles home – one for himself and one for his parents. One of the highlights of their wedding was discovering his parents VW had mistakenly been decorated with tin cans, balloons, and shaving cream with “just married” written on the windows.
That fall, after the wedding, Carol left for Loma Linda CA for her final year of nursing school. Junior joined her following harvest. The story was told he plowed all night on his last night then drove straight through to join her. Following nursing school, they settled into a home on the family farm next to his parents. Three children were born to the home, Julie, Norvin and Brent. Unfortunately, Brent died a short time after birth. They had a happy marriage, and it was a home filled with love and security.
Valoris had a great love and trust for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He lived that out throughout his daily life and in service through his church and community. He was a lifelong member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church serving for many years as an elder. He was also a part of the Dickinson County Mutual board of directors for twenty-six years, being chairman for twenty-one of those years. He enjoyed working with others and making a difference.
Junior wanted to be a friend to all. He considered himself blessed by the many friendships he enjoyed. He was a great encourager and as granddaughter Cassie put it “he was always in your corner”. He always wanted to be productive, and work was his therapy. He took the greatest joy from time with, or calls from, those he knew and loved. He was a man of virtue and humility. We are blessed by the legacy he leaves!
He was preceded in death by his parents, Valoris and Lucille (Brown) Johnson; his sister, Elnita “Dolly” Doeschott; his wife of 59 yrs Carol; son Brent and great-grandchild, Kallie Limbaugh.
Junior is survived by daughter,Julie Humphrey (Brad); son, Norvin (Nancy); grandchildren,Cassandra Kavuri (Roy), Cody Johnson, Kayla Limbaugh (Jordan), Krista Nelson (Tom), Britta Stilwell (Scott), Tessa Tucker (Clay), and seven great-grandchildren.
Turner Jenness Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
