J. Davis Dave Johnson, age 85, of 1701 McDonald Drive, Huron, died Thursday, December 30, 2004, at Sioux Valley Hospital at Sioux Falls. His Committal Service will be at 11:00 AM Monday, January 3, at Restlawn Memory Gardens Mausoleum with Rev. Terry Fraker officiating. There will be no visitation. Following the committal service at Restlawn Memory Gardens the family will be gathering at the American Lutheran Church basement for a luncheon and a time of celebration of Daves life. Memorials will be directed to an athletic scholarship in Daves memory. J. Davis Dave Johnson was born on August 22, 1919 at Hetland, SD to John David and Mary (Austad) Johnson. He attended school at Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 1938. He then attended Dakota Wesleyan College at Mitchell and graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. On December 29, 1941, Dave married Margaret Gilmore at Hartington, NE. He taught and coached at Highmore, SD from 1942 - 1945. He then moved to Huron and taught Junior High in 1945. In 1946 Dave was employed at Liems Sporting Goods and from 1947 to 1983 he was involved in the management and buyer for Osborns Clothing Company in Huron. Dave also was a referee for basketball and football games in the state of South Dakota from 1942 to 1965. He was the first official to officiate both A and B basketball tournaments in the same year. He served on the South Dakota Cement Commission, was chairman of the Beadle County Democratic Party, and was active for many years singing for weddings and special occasions. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church, Elks, Sertoma, and the Huron Country Club. Dave was an N.A.I.A. All American in basketball during his college years at Dakota Wesleyan College, and was inducted into the Dakota Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. He received the South Dakota Activities Association Distinguished Service Award in 1993, and was inducted in the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1994. His hobbies included golf, swimming and talking on the phone, playing bridge, singing and music. Most of all, Dave was a people person, admired by all, sharing his life in a significant way with immediate family, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends who meant so much to him. He never missed an opportunity to help someone, giving in any way he could. He was happiest with his wife and family at his side. He is survived by his wife Margaret of Huron; one son, Gary (Linda) Johnson of Lake Mary, FL; two daughters, Kimeron (Daniel) Stahly of Sioux Falls and Pam (Rich) Wilson of Nixa, MO; eight grandchildren, Kristin Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Anna Johnson, Jill (Ryan) Dodd, Beth Wilson, Nathan Johnson, Katarina Johnson and Ivory Stahly; two step-grandchildren, Scott Davison and Lea (Michael) Gunderson; three great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Joseph Stahly, four brothers, Milton, Orville, Norman and Floyd Johnson, two sisters, Harriet Prohl and Dagna Prohl and one nephew David Prohl.