ELEEN LEROY JOHNSON

Eleen LeRoy Johnson, Age 73, of Garvin, MN passed away May 7, 2026, after a brief stay at Luther Haven in Montevideo, MN. Eleen was born August 26, 1952, to Clarence L and Edith Rankin Johnson. Eleen grew up on the family farm near Lake Shetek and graduated from Tracy High School in 1970. On February 24, 1973, he and Shirley Schmidt were married at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy. Following their marriage, they made their home in Trimont, MN for a short time before returning to the Lake Shetek area. Eleen built a new home next to his parents’ home with the help of his brother-in-law, Butch and his boys. He and Shirley divorced in 1995. Eleen then moved down the road to the “Petersen’s place” where he made his home. Eleen worked for Lester Construction until moving on to work for the State of Minnesota he retired in 2011. Eleen could always be found helping a neighbor or a friend with cement work or construction projects that needed doing. He was known to the area for his hard work and his measure once attitude. He could also be counted on for taking the misfit kids and giving them summer jobs. In 2016, Eleen suffered a stroke and moved to an apartment in Tracy, where he lived until February 2026. He then moved to Montevideo, where he could spend his remaining time close to his son and daughter in law. Although, he didn’t always say it, he cherished his daily visits with them (some that started with a phone call by 6:00 am) and occasional outings. Even if it was only a trip across the parking lot.

Eleen is survived by his two children, Danielle Johnson of Shakopee, MN and Dean (Shiloh) Johnson of Montevideo, MN, two grandchildren, Jade Johnson and (Jenesis Long) of Sioux Falls, SD and Mason Johnson of Montevideo, MN, three sisters, Marie (David) Bauer of Garvin, MN, Jeanette Miller of Lake Wilson, MN and Jean Reinholdt of Russel, MN and one sister-in-law, Joyce Johnson of Milford, IA as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. Eleen was proceeded in death by his parents, Clarence and Edith Johnson, brother, Norman Johnson and two brothers-in-law, Allan (Butch) Miller and Raymond Reinholdt.

Funeral Services were at Lake Sarah Baptist Church in rural Slayton, MN on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Kory Tedrick officiating. The pallbearers were his family and friends. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens, in Slayton, MN.

Visitation was one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.