Dorothy Ann Young Johnson was born June 19, 1928 in Union County, South Dakota to Harold and Margaret (Bachman) Young. She was the oldest of seven children. Dorothy was raised in the Alcester area and attended Gothland School before her family moved to a farm near Pipestone, Minnesota. There she attended Dailey School for seven years before her family returned to farm in the Alcester area. She graduated from Beresford High School and attended Augustana in Sioux Falls where she received her teaching certificate. Dorothy taught schools in Lincoln and Union Counties.

Dorothy married Merrill C. Johnson at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Beresford on October 6, 1950. They farmed for 40 years and retired into Alcester in 1997. She and Merrill enjoyed to travel and loved big family Christmas celebrations. Dorothy was a great "you know" cook and baker; her family would ask how she made a recipe and her reply would be, "Oh, you know..." Following Merrill's death in 2000, she continued to live in Alcester until her death. Dorothy died October 2, 2020 in Sioux Falls at the age of 92 years.

She was a member of Nathanael Lutheran Church, WELCA and a quilter at the church for many years. Dorothy will be remembered by her family, friends and community members for her sewing skills; she made many dresses and hemmed numerous clothing items for those in need of her expertise. She was a member of the BCNU "Be Seein' You" Extension Club and the RLD "Read, Learn, Discover" Club. Dorothy was a truly genuine and loving person, and an avid card sender, her family treasures the handwritten letters they received from her over the years.

Her parents, husband, Merrill; son, Bruce; brother, Donald Young; sister and brother in law, Joyce and Myron Larson; brother in law and sister in law, Swede and Ihlo Dirks; brother in laws, Wendell Pearson and Robert Hendricks, and sister in law, Diane Young, preceded her in death.

Dorothy is survived by her two sons, Doug (Cheryl) Johnson and Warren (Debbie) Johnson of Alcester; nine grandchildren, Stacey (Mark) Padgett, Sarah (Jacob) Anderson, Scott (Megan) Johnson, Kyle (fiancé, Ruth Corvil) Johnson, Nathan (Nicole) Johnson, Grant Johnson, Mitch Johnson (special friend Brianna Walth), Nicholas (Brandi) Johnson and Lance (Sabrina) Johnson; two step-grandchildren, Eric (Tam) Kneen and Tanya (Shad) Kaske; 13 great-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren and two step-great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister, Marge Hansen of Beresford; three brothers, George (LaVonne) Young and Larry (Corrine) Young of Alcester and Robert Young of Brandon; and her sisters-in-law, Dione Young of Cedar Falls, IA, Carol Pearson of Alcester and Dorothy Hendricks of Hawarden, IA.

Funeral services will be 10AM Thursday, October 8, 2020 at Nathanael Lutheran Church; wear masks and be socially distant. If you're not feeling well, please send condolences to the family. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Alcester. Visitation will be 4-8PM Wednesday, Oct. 7 ^th at Wass Funeral Chapel in Alcester with the family present from 6-8PM.