Marlin Johnson, age 67, of Iroquois, SD, died Saturday, August 15, 2009, at SunQuest Healthcare Center in Huron.

His funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 20, at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Iroquois with burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home and 6-8 p.m. at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Irqouois with the family present and a Scripture Service at 7 p.m.; and Thursday morning one hour prior to the mass at the church.

Marlin Duane Johnson, son of Arend and Helen (Torgrude) Johnson, was born on January 27, 1942, in Lake Preston, SD. There he attended Evergreen Country School until the family moved and he graduated 8th grade from Arlington, SD. They then moved back to Lake Preston where Marlin attended and graduated from Lake Preston High School in 1960.

He worked on a farm for Delmer Ross and then the Farmers Elevator in Arlington. Marlin was working at the lake Preston Creamery when he joined the South Dakota National Guard on December 26, 1963, and was a member until his honorable discharge on December 25, 1969.

On May 20, 1967, Marlin married Veronica Rogers at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Iroquois. In February 1969, they moved to De Smet where he worked for Peavey Alfa-Con. In October 1969, they moved to Huron where Marlin worked for Glendening Motorways. On December 31, 1970, he began work at Armour & Company, and continued there when it switched to Swift, and later Dakota Pork. He then was employed with Lyle Signs in De Smet until his retirement in 2008. He recently enjoyed helping area farmers.

In August 1978, after moving to Iroquois, Marlin joined the volunteer Fire Department and was an EMT on the ambulance crew. He was a member of the Bensley-Rounds American Legion Post #280 of Iroquois; St. Pauls Catholic Church in Iroquois where he served two terms on the parish council; Iroquois City Council member for 5 years; and served one term on the Citys Planning and Zoning Committee.

Marlin enjoyed visiting with family and his neighbors, and was very good at building and repairing things. He also enjoyed camping and fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Veronica of Iroquois; 1 daughter, Nikki (Jason) Bankston of Huron; 3 granddaughters; Jordan, Madison, and Jacelyn, all of Huron; 10 siblings, Robert (Beverly) Johnson of Colorado Springs, CO, LeRoy (Luella) Johnson of Hanna City, IL, Roger (Julie) Johnson of Pipestone, MN, Virginia Clark of Brookings, SD, Carol (Eudale) Ringgaard of Brookings, SD, Mavis (Al) Akkerman of Aberdeen, SD, Beverly (Bob) LaVelle of Beaverton, OR, Phyllis (Jim) Rundell of Black Hawk, SD, Delores Ross of Sunset, UT, and Dianne (Earl) Coovert of Rapid City, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Ross Bruett; 2 brothers, Gordon and Donald; and 1 sister, Arlene.