Robert E. Johnston

Robert E. Johnston, 79, of Dakota City, passed away March 26, 2017 at Spring Valley Hospital in Las Vegas, NV. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the church on the grounds of the Humboldt County Historical Museum. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt. Burial will be in Vernon Township Cemetery, Renwick with full military honors by Adams American Legion Post 119 and Sathers-Odgaard VFW Post 5240.
Robert is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathy of Dakota City; son David Johnston of Ames; brother, Dwight Lindquist of Fort Dodge; niece, Melissa Lindquist; great nieces, Hannah and Maya; sister-in-laws, Mary Chrans of Wagner, SD and Carolyn Corey of Sioux Falls, SD; and brother-in-law, Larry Corey of Mitchell, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brothers, Duane and Daryl.
Robert E. Johnston, the son of Gilbert and Olive (Foley) Johnston, was born March 26, 1938 at Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was raised on a farm east of Hardy until the family moved to Lehigh when Robert was eight years old. Following his education, Robert enlisted into the United States Air Force. While stationed in South Dakota, Robert met Kathy Corey and the couple was united in marriage on July 11, 1964 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wagner, South Dakota.
Robert made the Air Force his career and over the next twenty years, the family made their homes in Greenland, Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, Turkey, North Dakota, Germany, and Wyoming. Following his retirement from active service in 1975, the couple returned to Hardy. Robert remained active in his retirement, farming, driving truck, supervising maintenance at the Kossuth County Hospital, working for the group home in Humboldt, and for a while, he and Kathy owned and operated a café in Hardy. In 1997, they moved to Dakota City.
Robert enjoyed fishing and hunting, card playing and country music, especially Hank Williams.