The family of Janet Clarice Johnson of Lake Norden, SD announces her passing, and invites all who knew her to remember her here.
Behind every name is a life, and behind every life are the people who loved it.
Parenthood is the slow work of love. Janet did it well.
Janet Clarice Johnson, 88, was welcomed to her heavenly home on Tuesday, April 28th, 2026.
Janet was born November 28, 1937 in Estelline, SD to Harry and Irene Hoglund, the fifth of six children. She attended school at Lake Norden, and graduated from Lake Norden High School in 1956. It was there, at age 14, that she met the love of her life, Al Johnson. They were married April 6, 1957 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Lake Norden, SD.
Janet faithfully followed Al from Georgia to Alaska during his years in the United States Army. Soon after his discharge, they welcomed two precious children, Jeff and Leah, and their family was complete.
They moved to Fairmont, MN where Al served multiple judges in Minnesota's 5th Judicial District as a Court Reporter for 25 years. During that time, Janet served as his at-home secretary and typed thousands of court transcript pages for him. She accepted the Lord as her Savior at a young age, and her faith was evident in every aspect of her life. She was a member of the Bethel Evangelical Free Church and later, the Lake Norden Covenant church where she attended services and activities, and gave generously of her time and talents. After retiring, she and Al enjoyed splitting their time between their homes in Chandler, AZ and Lake Norden, SD before settling in Sioux Falls, SD in 2012. After Al passed away, Janet moved to Iowa to be closer to her daughter and her family.
Janet loved people, and because of her cheerful and positive attitude, people loved being around her. She served others in any way they needed – sewing curtains, hanging wallpaper, baking goodies and much more. She loved having company for dinner, sharing homemade meals from her kitchen, playing card games with friends and family, and sewing and quilting special pieces for herself and others to cherish. Beautiful sunsets were something she would often comment on, knowing they were placed in the sky for her enjoyment by the Creator and Savior she loved. She enjoyed music from a young age and sang often in church, with her sisters, or gathered around the piano with anyone willing to join in. Together, she and Al enjoyed spending time outdoors boating, camping and vacationing with friends and family, and both vegetable and flower gardening. She loved her family so very much and cherished each visit with her children, her three grandchildren, and later in life, her three great-grandchildren.
Left to celebrate her life and share memories are her son Jeff (Sherri) Johnson of Fairmont, MN; her daughter Leah (Gary) Sundblad of Albert City, IA; her treasured grandchildren Brady (Emily) of Marathon, IA; Brittany of Sioux Falls, SD; and Suzanne (Trevor) of Harrisburg, SD; her three precious great-grandchildren Addaley Harper, Rory Duane, and Shayley Clair of Marathon, IA; brother-in-law Chuck Warren of Salem, OR; sister JoAnn (Ken) Mattheis of Sioux Falls, SD; sister Shirley (John) Larson of Lake Norden, SD as well as many other beloved relatives.
Visitation will take place from 10am to 11am on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Lake Norden, South Dakota. A Celebration of Life service will begin at 11am, with burial in the Olivet Cemetery immediately following. The service will be recorded and can be viewed from the Geise Funeral Chapel's website at https://www.geisefuneralhome.com.
