Andrew W. Johnson

Andrew William (Andy) Johnson passed away at his home in Sturgis, SD on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Andy was born on February 7, 1938 to George J. and Mamie E. (Stolnack) Johnson at the Suni Place, south of Newell, SD, and was the fourth of ten children.
In 1939, George and Mamie leased the Larson Ranch in the northwest corner of Harding County, SD. Andy started first grade at the Jupiter School (Harding County) and then attended the Plainview School (Carter County, MT) when his parents moved to the Volin place (Old Sky Ranch) in 1944. He attended school in Camp Crook, at Plainview again, and in Buffalo before his parents purchased the Brady place, north of Castle Rock, SD, in the Fall of 1946. He completed his elementary education at the Crow Butte School near the family ranch.
Andy, along with his sister, Marilyn (who was born on Andy's first birthday), graduated from Belle Fourche High School with the Class of 1957. Andy returned to work on the ranch and, eventually, he and his brother, Doug, purchased the ranch from their parents.
He lived there until the ranch was sold in 1976.
Andy married Wanda (Rirtz) Anders in the mid-70s but they divorced four years later. He then married Linda (Anders) Jennings on March 7, 1980 and became a loving father to her three children, including Donal, Lourinda, and Sandy.
After selling the ranch, Andy pursued various employment opportunities, including working at farm implement dealerships, working in the oilfields of North Dakota and
Wyoming, truck
driving in Arizona and South Dakota, performing custodial duties for the Meade County Courthouse, and driving a delivery truck while living in Rapid City.
He retired in June 2011.
Andy was preceded in death by his parents; five siblings and spouses, including Betty J. (John) Niemi, Doris H.
Johnson, G. Douglas (Patricia) Johnson, Marilyn M. (Arnold, Jr.) Schmidt and Judith G. Johnson; other brothers-in-law, including
Douglas Miller,
William
Schafer, and Roger Reynolds; one niece, Teryl Johnson McGriff; and his mother-in-law, Ileen Anders.
Andy is survived by his wife, Linda; three children, including Don (Edyth) Jennings, Lourinda (Carl) Garner, and Sandy Hayes; several grandchildren and great grandchildren;
four
sisters,
including Beverly J. Miller of Mission, TX; Darlene J. Schafer of Mission, TX;
Arlene J. Reynolds of Rapid City, SD and Ida L. (Mel) Johnson of Apple Valley, MN; several nieces and nephews; and Linda's siblings and families.
Arrangements were under the care of Kinkade Funeral Chapel of Sturgis.