1949
Richard
2014
Richard Johnson
December 2, 1949 — June 25, 2014
Richard Johnson, 64, of Fergus Falls died Wednesday, June 25, 2014 surrounded by his family and the loving care of the nurses and staff of the Broen Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Richard Lewis Johnson "Rick" was born December 2, 1949 at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul to Richard C. and June L. (Neubauer) Johnson. He resided in Shoreview, graduating from Mounds View High School in 1967.
He served 2 years in the US Navy aboard the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal and USS Independence as Operation Readiness on the flight decks. After discharge he attended Anoka-Ramsey Jr. College and worked at the Arms Plant and N.L. Industries.
On September 23, 1972 he married Karla L. Goepferd. They lived in Shoreview for 4 years where their daughters Andrea and April were born. The family then moved to Osakis, MN, while Rick was employed at Alexandria Extrusion and the Long Prairie Packing Plant. While in Osakis, Rick was an EMT for Osakis EMS. In 1981 they moved to Fergus Falls when Rick began working for Wahpeton Canvas. In 1982 he started the job he loved most of all at the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center doing general maintenance and grounds keeping. In the late 1990's Rick was forced to retire due to medical disability.
Rick had many interests during his lifetime. He played in two rock 'n roll bands as a young man. He loved animals, especially horses and dogs. He loved being outdoors, yard work, playing cards, bow hunting and fishing. Rick and Karla enjoyed working with the Fergus Falls High School Marching Band for several years. He loved Bison football, UND hockey and had a love/hate relationship with the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. He made birdhouse "condos", giving them to family and friends. Mostly Rick enjoyed people – being with them, teasing and joking with them – most recently his coffee pals at New Beginnings.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law, Gordon and Jean Goepferd and a niece, Lara Goepferd.
He is survived by his wife Karla; daughters Andrea Zachary of Fergus Falls and April Johnson of Moorhead; the light of his life, granddaughter Brianne Karla Zachary. He asked that it be written in his obituary "How proud I am of my girls and how much I love them." He is also survived by his brothers Dennis (Mona) Johnson, Greg (Marlys) Johnson; sisters Cindy Wafer and Kimberly (Bill) Hendrickson; his Goepferd family that he considered his own: brothers Ivan and Collin (Linda) Goepferd and sisters Meredith (Dan) Weiby and Heidi (Reggie) Schwartz.
Rick also thought the world of his nieces Denise, Lara, Jessie, Kate, Rochelle, Heather, Amanda, Crystal and Keri and his nephews Karl, Aaron, Paul, Brandon, Brook, Justin and Zach. His 10 great nieces and nephews also brought him joy. He also leaves many, many friends.
Memorial Service: Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at the Broen Home Light and Life Auditorium
Visitation: One hour prior to the service
Clergy: Rev. Ken Austin
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
![]()
Rick's Memorial Folder
Richard Lewis Johnson "Rick" was born December 2, 1949 at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul to Richard C. and June L. (Neubauer) Johnson. He resided in Shoreview, graduating from Mounds View High School in 1967.
He served 2 years in the US Navy aboard the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal and USS Independence as Operation Readiness on the flight decks. After discharge he attended Anoka-Ramsey Jr. College and worked at the Arms Plant and N.L. Industries.
On September 23, 1972 he married Karla L. Goepferd. They lived in Shoreview for 4 years where their daughters Andrea and April were born. The family then moved to Osakis, MN, while Rick was employed at Alexandria Extrusion and the Long Prairie Packing Plant. While in Osakis, Rick was an EMT for Osakis EMS. In 1981 they moved to Fergus Falls when Rick began working for Wahpeton Canvas. In 1982 he started the job he loved most of all at the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center doing general maintenance and grounds keeping. In the late 1990's Rick was forced to retire due to medical disability.
Rick had many interests during his lifetime. He played in two rock 'n roll bands as a young man. He loved animals, especially horses and dogs. He loved being outdoors, yard work, playing cards, bow hunting and fishing. Rick and Karla enjoyed working with the Fergus Falls High School Marching Band for several years. He loved Bison football, UND hockey and had a love/hate relationship with the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. He made birdhouse "condos", giving them to family and friends. Mostly Rick enjoyed people – being with them, teasing and joking with them – most recently his coffee pals at New Beginnings.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law, Gordon and Jean Goepferd and a niece, Lara Goepferd.
He is survived by his wife Karla; daughters Andrea Zachary of Fergus Falls and April Johnson of Moorhead; the light of his life, granddaughter Brianne Karla Zachary. He asked that it be written in his obituary "How proud I am of my girls and how much I love them." He is also survived by his brothers Dennis (Mona) Johnson, Greg (Marlys) Johnson; sisters Cindy Wafer and Kimberly (Bill) Hendrickson; his Goepferd family that he considered his own: brothers Ivan and Collin (Linda) Goepferd and sisters Meredith (Dan) Weiby and Heidi (Reggie) Schwartz.
Rick also thought the world of his nieces Denise, Lara, Jessie, Kate, Rochelle, Heather, Amanda, Crystal and Keri and his nephews Karl, Aaron, Paul, Brandon, Brook, Justin and Zach. His 10 great nieces and nephews also brought him joy. He also leaves many, many friends.
Memorial Service: Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at the Broen Home Light and Life Auditorium
Visitation: One hour prior to the service
Clergy: Rev. Ken Austin
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
Rick's Memorial Folder
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Johnson, please visit our flower store.