Cleo Laverne Johnson

     Cleo LaVerne Johnson the son of Earl and Elsie (Giberson) Johnson, was born in February 4, 1926 at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. At the age of 5 the family moved into Montrose, SD, where Cleo attended school to graduation in 1944. As a boy he loved hunting and playing baseball, something he passed on to his children. Following graduation, he proudly served 2 years in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre. During his service Cleo had the privilege of serving on a newly built destroyer-the USS James C. Owens. At the end of WWII following his honorable discharge, he attended the University of South Dakota for two years. 

      Cleo moved to Spencer, IA in 1949 where he met “my beautiful farm girl” Marilyn Culver. They were united in marriage on June 2, 1950 and shared a wonderful life of  70 years together. They are the proud parents of three sons and a daughter. Cleo was a very loving husband and father. He was a longtime member of the Methodist Church in Dickens where he served as Treasurer for 20 years. He shared his love and talent for sports by starting and coaching the first Little League team in Dickens. He later played ball in the Spencer Senior League. Cleo’s job that he loved was his 30 years as a Rural mail carrier for the Dickens and Webb areas, as well as the RLCA treasurer. Cleo was a member of the Dickens and Spencer American Legions for over 50 years. He was active on the Site Council and delivered Meals on Wheels for the Senior Center. After retirement Cleo and Marilyn enjoyed many winter seasons in the Rio Grande Valley, TX.

     Cleo passed away peacefully on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Spencer at the age of 94. He is preceded in death by his parents; his siblings: Clyde, Lyndal, Glenn and Truman and Beulah in infancy.

     Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marilyn of Spencer, IA; his children: Bob (Chris) Johnson of Dickens, IA, Ron (Betty) Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, Jerry (Fawn) Johnson of Manheim, PA and Rene Atchison of  Sioux Falls, SD; his grandchildren: Jennifer (Rich) Goll, Heather (Adam) Warren, Dan Johnson, Jamie (Gordon) Varuska, Angela (Tom) Cutshall, Elizabeth (Brady) McGeough, Jacob Johnson, Jessica Johnson; two step-grandchildren: Krystal and Andrew; great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; a sister, Evelyn (Jack) VanNorman; other relatives and friends.

Private Family Services will be held, due to the Covid 19 Virus. The service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, June 20, 2020 at the Warner Chapel in Spencer. The service will be livestreamed on our facebook page.

Rev. Donna Gray

Honorary Bearers
His Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren

"Sentimental Journey"
"How Great Thou Art"
By Jason Warren
Terry Stevens
Craig Cannon
Eric Meeter

Military Services will be conducted by the American Legion Glen Pedersen Post #1 and the V.F.W. Clay County Post #3159

Riverside Cemetery
Spencer, Iowa