Obituary of Robert Johansen

Robert "Bob" Johansen, age 81 of Yankton passed away on Monday, November 9, 2015 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton surrounded by his family. Memorial services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton with Rev. Dani Jo Ninke officiating and military rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 Honor Guard, Yankton and the SDARNG Honor Guard, Sioux Falls, SD. Burial of his cremated remains will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis at a later date. Visitations will begin at 5 PM, Friday, November 13, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory with a 7 PM Prayer service and video tribute. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Robert "Bob" Martinus Johansen was born April 28, 1934 to Willie "Martin" and Olga (Larsen) Johansen on the home farm west of Viborg, South Dakota. He was baptized July 2, 1934 in Parker, confirmed on June 6, 1948 at Bang [Bong] Lutheran Church in Rural Turner County, West of Viborg and was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Yankton. He married Dorothy Dickerson on May 16, 1954 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Viborg, SD and was happily married to her for 61 wonderful years. Bob started his schooling in a rural one room school house riding the "1 horse bus" uphill both ways in 6 feet of snow. In 1948 he started high school at Viborg High School where he graduated "with honors" in May of 1952. As he stated to his grandchildren, he graduated with honors from Turkey Ridge University, but actually served his country in the US Army from January 5, 1955 to December 13, 1956, which he always jokingly stated "was the best 2 years of my married life, I apologize Dorothy". He started his lifelong civilian career in the dairy industry at the Scandinavian Coop Creamery in Viborg, SD after his high school graduation and after a short vacation with Uncle Sam, he resumed his career at the creamery. For the next 40 years he worked in the dairy industry at Freeman Creamery and Terrace Park Dairy/Land-O-Lakes, until his retirement in 1996. To keep busy in his retirement, he worked at Schwann's Sales in Marshall, MN until Dorothy's retirement in 1999 when they became "Winter Texans", spending winters in McAllen, TX and summers in the Yankton, SD area. He loved spending time with his brother, Ralph on the family farm in rural Viborg and his favorite dogs Tippy, Lola and Nala. He also loved spending time with his grandchildren who he always gave "wise and sage advice" to, which was always questioned accordingly by their parents. Bob is survived by many friends and family including: his beloved wife, Dorothy; three sons: Neal (Linda) Johansen of Corpus Christi, TX, David (Jane) Johansen of Omaha, NE and Timothy Johansen of Cheyenne, WY; eight grandchildren: Travis and Jeff Langeland, Krystin and Robert Johansen, Erin and Emily Johansen, Annaleise and Zoe Johansen; two great-grandchildren, Harrison and Elijah Langeland; one brother, Ralph (Anita) Johansen of Viborg, SD; one sister-in-law, Ann Johnson of Vermillion, SD and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, his daughter, Sandra (Sandy) Langeland and one sister-in-law, Ruth Morrison.