Spencer Orville Johnson, 94
Spencer Orville Johnson, age 94 of Fredericksburg, died Friday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Linn Haven Health Center in New Hampton.
Spencer was born Jan. 22, 1926, on the family farm in southern Howard County, the son of Andrew and Anna (Thompson) Johnson.
On Nov. 11, 1951, at Crane Creek Lutheran Church in rural Lawler, he married Erma Oriette Haugen.
During the Korean War, he served in the Army and had his son, Larry, while stationed at a base in Marysville, California. In 1954, the family moved to a farm east of Fredericksburg. They welcomed their daughter, Janet, in 1960.
Growing up, he only spoke Norwegian until he started school, and he was able to recite the Norwegian “Table Prayer” for family gatherings.
Spencer was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg where he was an elder and the fishing trips with Pastor Jeffery Crane. He served as board member of the Fredericksburg Cooperative.
He was a wonderful grandpa and uncle that gave countless tractor rides and photo sessions sitting on cows. He always had a candy and pop treat in the refrigerator. He was a regular euchre player in Jerico and was one of their best players.
Dancing was his specialty, both cheek-to-cheek kitchen dances and spins around the dance floor at weddings.
In 2001, he had the honor of representing his community as Grand Dairyman for Fredericksburg Dairy Day. Spencer was a regular attendee of Dairy Day, and took many children of friends and family on merry-go-round rides.
Spencer is survived by his son, Larry (Gail) of North Liberty; his daughter, Janet (Calvin) Steege of Fredericksburg; two sisters, Hazel Newgard of Glenville, Minnesota, and Norma Jean (Robert) McArthur of Victoria, British Columbia; brother-in-law Donald (Betty) Haugen of Waterloo; four grandchildren, Alissa (Scott) Harrington of Oakland, California, Ryan (Jamie) Steege of Fredericksburg, Andra (Van) Gould of North Liberty, and Alex (Morgan) Steege of Fredericksburg; six great-grandchildren, Erin, Ella, Cora, Spencer, Jack, and Wells; and many very special nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Erma; his parents; one sister, Mavis Hereid, Robert Johnson in infancy, Thomas Johnson, and many loving relatives and friends with whom he is now reunited.
There will be a private funeral for the family at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, with Pastor Ronnie Koch officiating. Please join the family via Facebook Live on Conway-Markham Funeral Home Facebook page at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22.
Burial will follow with military rites provided by Fredericksburg American Veterans Post 90.
Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Cards or memorials can be sent to Janet Steege 2825 Stanley Avenue, Fredericksburg, IA 50630.
