Sunny (Dennis) Johnson, age 63 of Oak Grove died in North Dakota on February 17, 2013 as the result of an automobile accident. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at our Isanti Chapel. Visitation will be held from 4 – 8 P.M. on Wednesday, February 20th at the Isanti Chapel and also one hour prior to the service.
Dennis ‘Sunny’ Lee Johnson was born to Donald and Zellafern (Golden) Johnson on May 11, 1949 in Siren, Wis., the second of five children. He attended school in Coon Rapids, dropping out at age 16 to join the workforce. He met his wife, Linda, at her father’s auto wrecking business as a teenager, but their lives took them in different directions for many years. They finally tied the knot on Aug. 16, 1988. Family was very important to Sunny, and despite being a workaholic, he made time for his wife, kids and grandchildren. He passed along his good work ethic to his children. If you were family, he put you to work, too, pounding nails and painting walls. All of his children worked for him in the construction business over the years, as did many of his nephews. “For a 63-year-old guy, he could work like he was 20,” observed his son Nick. Despite putting in six-day work weeks, Sunny never complained. In his “down time,” he remodeled his own homes. Sunny was a man who always believed everyone deserved a second chance. He enjoyed baseball and collecting cars, particularly Rancheros, and spent many an hour in the garage fixing them up. He loved comics, and has a room at home full of them.
Sunny died in a car crash on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 in Hillsboro, ND at the age of 63 years, 9 months and 6 days. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Sue (Nicholson) Johnson; father Donald Johnson; father-in-law John Blumer; son-in-law Lester Miller; and sister-in-law, Cheryl Slater.
Sunny is survived by wife Linda Johnson of Oak Grove; children Jennifer Johnson of Oak Grove, Nick (Sarah) Johnson of Big Lake, Brent (Ambyr) Johnson of Champlain, Doug (Connie) Miller of Big Lake, and Terri (Jennifer) Miller of Bradford; grandchildren Tristin Johnson, Brooklyn Johnson, Austin Johnson, Kayla (Josh) Wagner, Jessica Miller, Melanie Miller, Makenzie Miller, Brittney (Josh) Janes, Megan Miller and Daniel Miller; mother Zellafern Johnson; siblings Donald (Val) Johnson, Darwin Johnson, Daryl Johnson and Darlene Poss; and many other loved ones.
My heart aches for my friends Jenn and Linda Johnson Sunny will be Missed dearly. I babe been friends with Jenn since 1995 and have very special memories including the lake and the paddle boat and us girls falling in Sunny just standing there laughing and shaking his head at us girls. That’s just one of many memories I have. I send my thoughts and prayers to the family and Friend, I pray that time will heal your hearts and a peace comes to you all. peace and much love
I never knew sunny but I am a friend of jenn and my thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family and friends he left behind god bless and if you need anything please call on us michal and I are here for you we love you guys my boyfriend Michael knew sunny for a few years I heard he was a great man RIP you will be sadly missed
I never met Sunny but I “knew” him thru Linda (at work) and her wonderful daughter Jen! I know how close they were to him and him to them. My thoughts and prayers go out to both of them and the rest of the family and friends. May God heal your heavy hearts quickly. Love you both!
Daddy, I miss you already…and forever will. You helped to make me the woman I am today. I’m so glad that I had even a lil piece of time here with you. I love you!
Sonny will be missed, my thoughts and prayers are with Sonny and the family, I have great memories of Sonny and they will last forever. God Bless.
My love, thoughts, and prayers go out to all of Sunnys family. He was a great guy and a wonderful dad and will be missed by all. He left all of us too young. He will forever be in our hearts and memories. Condolences to all who loved him.
Dearest Jenn and Linda,
I am so sorry for the loss of your father and husband. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
Our deepest condolences to Sunny’s beautiful family. We had the priviledge of knowing this wonderful man and will miss him dearly.
Our prayers go out to the Johnson Family.
Nick, Sarah and Tristin,
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
-Helen Keller
Nick & Family,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Love,
Jeff & Teresa Johansson
Nick & Family,
I am so sorry to hear the loss of your father from this suddent car accident. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Time is the essential healing mechanism and as you know, losing a loved one only gets easier to accept the more time that goes by.
Sincerely,
Jamie
To the family of Sunny- By all the wonderful comments above it is obvious that Sunny was a great man and will be dearly missed. I met Sunny at the accident scene as I was one of the first to arrive to his side. As I am a man of faith I wanted to let you know that at this rough time for him he was surrounded by amazing people all probably strangers but all there to provide comfort, medical attention and love to him as we waited for the emergency people to arrive. Many of us grabbed blankets to keep him warm and I also gave him my winter hat. I just thought the family would like to know that he was not alone. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Just found out today about Uncle Sunny. I know he will be greatly missed by family and friends. My heart goes out to Grandma for the loss of a son – there is no pain greater. My prays and blessings are with you.