Larry Edward Johnson, 69, of San Diego, Calif., formerly of Minot, was born on April 24, 1943, and died of idiopathic interstitial lung disease on Aug. 1, 2012, at UCSD Thornton Hospital in San Diego.
He was born in Virginia, Minn., to Clarence Johnson and Hazel Johnson (nee Bradeen). In 1950, the family, including brother Jeff Johnson, relocated to Minot. Larry served 18 months in Vietnam with the Army 1st Cavalry Division in 1966 and 1967. He received numerous military awards.
He married his second wife, Wendy Westlie, in 1977. Together they relocated from Minot to San Diego. Larry worked as a journeyman ironworker for many years throughout North Dakota and California. After he retired as an ironworker, he began to volunteer and eventually work at Grossmont Community College. Larry maintained the baseball field and coached outfield and first base. Larry also played adult baseball and in 2005 he won the World Series of Baseball for Adults over the age of 60. For one year Larry was the best right fielder over the age of 60 in the United States.
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Wendy passed away in 2000 and Larry continued to raise his two daughters on his own. Larry was a great father, coach and friend; he will be missed by all those who knew him.
Larry was preceded in death by his father, C. D. "Clink" Johnson, his mother, Hazel May Bradeen Johnson, his stepmother, Delorez M. Johnson, and his wife, Wendy Westlie Johnson.
Survivors include: All of his children, Taggart Johnson, Amy Johnson-Westlie, and Sheela Johnson-Westlie, all of San Diego; a brother, Jeff Johnson, of Rapid City. S.D.; a granddaughter, Roxanne Johnson, of San Diego; a stepsister, Verna Aleshire, of Minot; and a stepbrother, Bruce Whidden, of Brigham City, Utah.