Clifford Edwin Johnson

Clifford Edwin Johnson passed from this earth to his eternal home with Jesus Christ on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Cliff was born in Dassel, MN on May 30, 1935, to Harry & Esther Johnson, the fifth of six children. Cliff married the love of his life LaRene Peterson on October 12, 1957. Together they enjoyed 67 years working side-by-side raising their family and enjoying life on the farm outside of Dassel. Cliff was a faithful, steady follower of Jesus Christ and raised his five children at the Dassel Covenant Church. He leaves a strong legacy of faith in Jesus Christ, hard work and integrity to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren. He attended as many of their activities as he possibly could. He would often say, “I’m so blessed, my cup overflows” as he enjoyed his growing family and their activities. Cliff enjoyed singing in the church choir and community choirs. He loved singing four-part harmony on traditional hymns. He had a great bass voice. He was known as one of the “bass Cliffs” in the church choir. He loved his career of farming. He was known to say, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” He truly lived out his love for farming, raising beef cattle until the age of 87. He was a very good dairy cattle, beef cattle and crop farmer, honing his skills on what is now known as “Contour Acres” farm. He grew seed corn, field corn, alfalfa, soybeans and oats. He developed his contour acres crop farming because of his deep understanding of soil erosion and conserving his fields. Cliff drove a milk truck for Dassel Creamery before he had his own farm operation. He would have young people ride with him on his milk route. This started his lifelong dedication of being a mentor. He invested in and mentored countless young people (his children and grandchildren included) throughout his life and almost always had a young person working with him, teaching and modeling hard work, integrity, patience and honesty. Cliff was proud of the fact that he was self-employed his whole life. He served on many boards throughout his life, including the Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Dairy Herd Improvement (DHIA) Board, the American Dairy Association (ADA) Board and the Dassel Covenant Church Board. He was a lifelong, faithful member of the Dassel Covenant Church. He was also a lifelong fan of the Minnesota Vikings. He always held out hope, season after season, for a Super Bowl run and was disappointed year after year. Cliff loved a good, clean joke, and pulling pranks on his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved to laugh and tell funny stories. He would smirk and his eyes would sparkle as he told these stories and jokes or reminisced about the prank or joke. He enjoyed teaching the children how to drive tractors, skid steer, side-by-sides, lawnmowers and golf carts and taking them on rides. Cliff always loved holding new babies born into the family. He’d always say, “It doesn’t get any better than this. I am so blessed!” Cliff is survived by his lovely bride of 67 ½ years, LaRene, children Greg (Cindy), Marcia (Randy) Dischinger, Brenda (Mark Dischinger), Paul (Kim), and Doreen (Ron) Mossberg. Grandchildren Jenna Johnson, Craig (Shawn) Dischinger, Curt Dischinger, Carmen (Ryan) Kandoll, Chad Dischinger, Kyle (Jen) Noyed, Emily (Tyler) Menssen, Lindsey (Kevin) Starkweather, Mitchell (Jenni) Johnson, Tyler (Sarah) Johnson, Kristi & Melia Johnson, Seth (Ellie) Mossberg, Annika, Jakob, and Lukas Mossberg. He is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren due this fall. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Annabelle Johnson and Joan Johnson, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved and looked out for very much, and countless dear friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Esther Johnson and siblings Ethelyn (Bob) Carlson, Gladys (Wayne) Paulson, Lillian (Daryl) Wessman, Elmer & Stuart Johnson, and nephews Dennis Carlson, Steve Paulson, and Mike Paulson. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Dassel Covenant Church with visitation at 10:00 AM. Memorials preferred to Dassel Covenant Church or The Gideon’s International. Arrangements by Johnson Funeral Home of Dassel, Minnesota (320-275-3381), www.jfamilyfuneralhome.com

Clifford Edwin Johnson

May 30, 1935 - May 13, 2025