Marlin E. Johnson, 75, of New Underwood and formerly of Lead, passed peacefully to walk eternally with the Lord Wednesday, May 16, 2007 after his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and his brief stay at the Fort Meade VAMC in Sturgis.
Marlin was born March 15, 1932 in Lead to Marion and Margaret (Killoren) Johnson. The family purchased and moved to a ranch south of Lead where Marlin grew up and attended school at the Hillside School on the ranch and later in Lead where he graduated High School in 1952. Marlin enlisted in the Army in 1953 until 1955 when he returned to Lead.
After working briefly with the Corps of Engineers as a laborer on Pactola Reservoir, Marlin began work at Homestake Gold Mine in 1957 until retiring as an electrician in 1992 after 36 years. Shortly after retiring Marlin moved from the family ranch to New Underwood where he remained until he became ill at which time he moved to his Son, Ross', home in Spearfish prior to his final days.
Marlin spent his life enjoying ranching, hunting and fishing, with his children, brother, John, and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren. He always remained a jokester and loved socializing with all he met.
He will be dearly missed by his son, Ross (Carolyn) Johnson and two grandchildren of Spearfish, daughters Marcia (Jack) Davis and grandson of Moravia, Iowa, and Jolene Geer and three grandchildren of Clinton, Mo.
He is also survived by his brother's John (Phyllis) Johnson, Deadwood, and Theron (Grace) Young, Huntington Beach, Calif. and their children and numerous other nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by two great-grandson's Raymond Olsen of Moravia, Iowa and Austin Clark of Spearfish.
Marlin was preceded in death by his parent's and one sister, Lavonne Libby of Grants Pass, Ore.
Visitation will be Sunday May 20, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Services will be conducted Monday, May 21 at 2 p.m. at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel, with Chaplin Charley Conger officiating and burial to follow at Mountain Lawn Cemetery in Lead.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to benefit research for Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at: www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com