Duane O. Johnson

Duane O. Johnson age 89 of Detroit Lakes, MN died October 6, 2012 at the VA Medical Center in Fargo, ND. Duane Olaf Johnson was born on June 28, 1923 in Richwood Township, MN to Carl and Lena Jacoby Johnson. He grew up in the Westbury, MN area and later near Richwood, MN. He attended school at the White Earth Mission School. He then went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corp, working in the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge near Detroit Lakes. He then served in the United States Army from 1944-1946 during WWII. On July 3, 1947 he was united in marriage to Nina Nelson in Detroit Lakes. They made their home in Detroit lakes where Duane drove school bus for the Emmet White Bus Co. Following his retirement he worked for the Canadian Professional Hockey School in Detroit Lakes. Duane loved to hunt and fish. He also made his own wine, beer and root beer and was known for his smoked fish. He was a member of the VFW and DAV. He is survived by two sons, Duane Jr. (Tammie), of Lengby, MN; and Milo, of New York Mills, MN; two daughters, Charlotte (William) Stolzman, of Princeton, MN; and Cindy (Charles Brown) Dibley, of Detroit Lakes, MN; nine grandchildren, Kirsten, Wade, Terry, Jason, Tally, Mina, Cassie, Eric, and Nathan; sixteen great grandchildren; one brother, Lavane Johnson, of Oklahoma; and one sister, Marietta Broberg, of detroit Lakes, MN; He was preceded in death by his wife, Nina (2009); his parents; 2 brothers, Lawrence and Gerald Johnson; and two sisters, Grace Stallman and Marcella Weets.