Lee Dale Johnson, 67, went into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at his home in Omaha, Nebraska.

He was born June 24, 1952, in Princeton Minnesota, to LeDale and Peg Johnson. Lee grew up in rural Zimmerman, Minnesota, and graduated from Elk River High School in Elk River, Minnesota, in 1970. He attended the University of Minnesota, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering, on an ROTC scholarship. He proudly served in the U.S. Army in the Corps of Engineers from 1970-78. He achieved the rank of Captain and was honorably discharged.

He joyfully worked for Hormel Foods for 33 years from 1978-2011, retiring as the manager of Plant Engineering at the Austin, Minnesota, plant.

Lee married Janice Marie Shappell on Aug. 26, 1972, in Elk River. They have been happily married for what would be 47 years in August.

Lee and Jan attended and served at Grace Lutheran Brethren Church in Bottineau, North Dakota, for the past seven years and considered this their church family.

Lee has joined his parents; grandparents; and brother-in-law, Warren Hinkle in Heaven.

Lee lives on in the hearts of his loving wife, Jan; daughter, Tiffany and her husband, Steve; granddaughters, Elsa, Bryn and Mari; son, Thor and his wife, Zoë; granddaughters, Savannah and Caiden; and his only grandson, Keegan. He is also survived by his brothers, Joel (Robin) and David (Lisa); sister, Sally; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2019, at Refuge – An Evangelical Free Church in Zimmerman. Lee’s wishes for memorial donations were to be made to Grace Lutheran Brethran Youth Building fund in Bottineau or the University of Nebraska Medical Center – Cancer Research in Omaha. Kremer Funeral Home in Omaha is assisting the family. Condolences may be left online at www.kremerfuneralhome.com.