The funeral service for Galen Orville Johnson of Albert Lea will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at Hayward Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Malm will officiate. Interment will be in Hayward Cemetery. A tribute of reading poetry and photo presentation of Galen’s life will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday prior to the funeral service in the fellowship hall at Hayward Lutheran Church.

Galen died Thursday July 27, 2006 at Thorne Crest Health Care Center. He was 82 years old.

Galen was born Sept. 27, 1923 in Albert Lea to Koren and C. Evangeline (Esse) Johnson. Galen graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1941. He was the Health Champion for 4-H.

He married Valborg Jordahl on June 30, 1945 at San Diego, Calif. and married Carmine Jordahl on June 9, 1979.

Galen had been the Treasurer for the Hayward Township Board for 26 years. Galen was a Dairy Farmer. He belonged to Hayward Lutheran Church and had served on the church council. Galen was a poet. He enjoyed polka music, reading history books and books about the human body.

Galen is survived by his wife Carmine of Truman; three sons: David Johnson and his wife Lisa of Blacksburg, Va., Randy Johnson and his wife Jane of Forest Lake, and Neil Johnson and his wife Debi of Albert Lea; three grandchildren: Ryan Johnson and his wife Lisa of Reno, Nev. and their son Kai, Davin Johnson and his wife Jenny of Minneapolis and Anne Johnson and special friend Ryan Johnson of Minneapolis; brothers:

Kendall R. Johnson and his wife Lila of Albert Lea and Daniel E. Johnson and his wife Sonja of Albert Lea; brothers and sisters-on-law:

Eunice Twiss of Montgomery, Ala., Donald Jordahl of Hartland, Dorothy Schmidt Cobb of Moorhead, Lavonne Johnson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Arthur Jordahl of Rochester, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Galen is preceded in death by his parents, first wife Valborg, brother and sister-in-law:

John Jordahl, Kermit Jordahl and Ardis Anderson.