Funeral services for Vernon N. Johnson, age 80, of Mission, Texas, formerly of Albert Lea, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Paul Aldrich will officiate. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Glenville. Visitation is one hour prior to the services at Bayview.

Vernon died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, in Mission, Texas.

Vernon Nelard Johnson was born May 3, 1923, to Clarence N. and Leona L. (Metzler) Johnson in Pemberton, Minn. He attended school in Waseca. Vernon served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1943-1946 as a member of Halsey’s Fleet in the South Pacific and also in the Atlantic picking up troops. On April 14, 1946, Vernon was united in marriage to Vilma LaVon Westrum at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle. Following his retirement as a foreman from Wilson & Co. in 1980, the couple moved to Mission, Texas. Vernon had been a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Elks, Eagles, and Moose Lodges, and the VFW and American Legion, all in Albert Lea.

Survivors include his wife, Vilma of Mission, Texas; children: Val Johnson and his wife Vickie of Arlington, Texas, Darcy Johnson and his wife Pam of Aitkin, Minn., and Robin and her husband Bill Otterbine of Mansfield, Texas; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers, S. L. and his wife Joyce Johnson of Albert Lea, Don and his wife Sharon Johnson ofAlbert Lea, and Gary and his wife Judy Johnson of Greeley, Colo.; sisters, Beverly Lechnir of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Janet Johnson of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; a brother and sister in infancy; and brother-in-law, Jerry Lechnir.