Larry Russel Johansen

Ryder

Larry Russel Johansen, 76, of El Dorado Hills, California, and formerly of Ryder, passed into Glory on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the family farm in Ryder.

Larry was born June 30, 1949, the son of Russel and Jeanette (Skogen) Johansen, in Minot.

He grew up and was educated in Ryder, where he played baseball and basketball, graduating from Ryder High School in 1967.

He attended North Dakota State University before marrying his high school sweetheart, Linda Ellwein, on October 18, 1968, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ryder. They spent 56 years together, raising their daughters and living in North Dakota, California, and Wisconsin, before eventually settling in El Dorado County, California.

In 1976, Larry completed his electrical apprentice program with IBEW Local 340 and became a journeyman. Throughout his career, he worked on construction projects across the United States, including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, airports in Denver, San Francisco, and Sacramento, as well as the power plants Coal Creek Station and Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station. He also co-owned RobLar Electric in the 1980s.

After retiring in 2011, Larry continued using his electrical knowledge to help others by installing generators, lighting, and ceiling fans for ministries, businesses, and families.

Larry loved farm life, raising cattle, pigs, and grains with his dad and grandpa. After briefly owning an Angus farm near Northfield, Wisconsin, he looked forward to helping his dad, brother, and cousins with harvest every fall, driving combines and swathers. He was pleased to share this joy with his grandsons. He appreciated any time he had the opportunity to go fly fishing and played card games with the grandkids whenever he could.

The most important thing in Larry’s life was his faith in the Lord Jesus as Savior. He spent countless hours reading and studying the Word and sharing God’s redemption plan with others. He served on the Board of Deacons at First Assembly of God in Placerville and was an Elder at Calvary Chapel Placerville for more than two decades. He faithfully led Bible studies at the El Dorado County Jail and Folsom State Prison and mentored parolees.

Larry is survived by his wife, Linda (Ellwein) Johansen; daughters, Sonya (Bob) Evanosky, Dana (Mike) Smith, and Rachel (Arthur) Dyxhoorn; grandchildren, William Dyxhoorn, Evan Smith, Jack Evanosky, Benjamin, Daniel, Jeremiah, James, Vaughn, and Lydia Dykxhoorn; sisters, Jan Bleeker, Colleen (Larry) Sorenson, and Darla Osborn; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Craig; his brother-in-law, Tom Bleeker; his sister-in-law, Melodi; and his grandsons, John and Christopher Evanosky.

A graveside service will be held on August 3, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Rosehill Cemetery in Ryder, North Dakota.

Published by The Minot Daily News Aug 1, 2025