LeRoy C. Johnson

BROOKINGS, S.D. - LeRoy C. Johnson, 91, of Brookings, passed away Aug. 14, 2015, at Brookings Health System in Brookings.

LeRoy Charles Johnson was born May 20, 1924, to George and Sophia (Kleimola) Johnson in Ironwood, Mich., on the family farm, the second oldest of three brothers. He was raised on a truck farm and perennial nursery which grew and marketed perennials to the entire country.

He graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood. He entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 10, 1943, and was attached to the British Army for one year in England. He served as a liaison in France for 1 ½ years and was honorably discharged on Jan. 11, 1946. He attended Biarritz American University in Biarritz, France. He received a degree in landscape architecture from Michigan State University and a master's degree in landscape architecture from Kansas State University.

He was united in marriage to Marie Audrey Peterson on June 28, 1947, in Ironwood. He practiced his profession in Toledo, Ohio, and Kansas City, Mo., and was a faculty member at Kansas University Department of Architecture. He joined the faculty at South Dakota State University in 1965 where founded the Landscape Architecture Program. He was instrumental in developing the SDSU campus master plan and developed numerous landscape projects on campus, including the original plan for McCrory Gardens. LeRoy retired from SDSU as an associate professor in 1987.

During his retirement, LeRoy enjoyed canoeing with his friends from B.A.R.F., golfing, ballroom dancing and teaching ballroom dancing in Lakeland, Fla., where he spent the winters.

He is survived by his two sons, Charles L. (Jackaline) Johnson of Henryville, Ind., and Craig P. (Carol) Johnson of Brookings; two daughters, Caryn E. Johnson of Sioux Falls, and Candace L. (Michael) Rechtenbaugh of Sioux Falls; one son-in-law, James McGowan of Palm Springs, Calif .; three brothers, Robert Johnson of Pasadena, Texas, Paul (Genevieve) Johnson of Cupertino, Calif., and James (MaryEllen) Johnson of Camden, N.J .; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marie Audrey; a daughter, Catherine A. McGowan; an infant daughter, Sandra Marie and a grandson, Collin Bauman.

Funeral services have been set for 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 23, at Rude's Funeral Home, Brookings. Visitation will be from noon until the time of services at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to the family through rudesfuneralhome.com.