Funeral service for Leonard Dennis Johnson Sr., 83, of Dickinson, will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 3, 2021 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Dickinson with Pastor Wolters officiating. Military honors presented by Dickinson American Legion Post #3 Honor Guard. He will be buried next to his wife, Nancy at Glade Run Cemetery in Dayton, PA.
Leonard passed away, Friday, November 26, 2021 in Jamestown.
Leonard Dennis Johnson was born in Port Angeles, WA on March 20, 1938, son of Stanley and Adeline (Trudeau) Johnson. Growing up, he attended school in Washington. At the age of 17, he entered the US Navy on August 16, 1955. During his time in the Navy, he was assigned to both the USS Lexington and the USS Bennington aircraft carriers. While stationed stateside in Patterson, CA, he met his first wife, Ailene Rauscher. The couple was married on November 17, 1956 and were later blessed with three children, Len Jr., Trina and Robin. Len served eight years in the military, including the Korean War. Before his honorary discharge, he discovered he wanted to become a firefighter. During his firefighting career in the civil service, he was stationed in Grand Forks, ND. It was here where he met Nancy McGrainor and on October 18, 1980 they were married. Len’s family grew with Nancy’s two daughters, Kelli and Kimberly. The family moved around for his career before settling in Dickinson, TX. Len enjoyed the outdoors, golfing and especially boating. He had an undeniable love for the water. When his wife of 38 years passed away in June 2019, he moved to Dickinson, ND to be closer to his son. Len had a brief stay at the Country House in Dickinson before finally succumbing to dementia.
Leonard is survived by his children, Leonard Jr. (Valerie) Johnson, Trina Morton, Robin (Steve) Gunzenhauser; step-daughters, Kelli Slominski, Kimberly Shumaker; 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; parents; two brothers, Gordon and Norman; three sisters, Irene, Evelyn and Susan.
