Funeral services will be 2:00 Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Bristol.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 Thursday with a prayer service at 6:00 at Coester Funeral Home, Webster.

Lyle Gustave "Bud" Johnson was born in Bristol, SD on September 12, 1926 to Gustave and Dora (Johnson) Johnson. He was baptized at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol, SD and confirmed at Bergen Lutheran Church as a young adult. He attended Fountain #152 Country School in Lynn Township living on the family farm all of his life until his retirement in 1984, when he moved to Bristol.

Bud married Carol Skaare on 9-21-47. She became his partner, and the quiet, working force behind her husband's many ventures throughout his life.

Bud was an avid sportsman his entire life, pitching for the Holmquist baseball team as a young man. He was also a hunter and fisherman, claiming to have caught the first fish taken out of Lynn Lake. He taught his sons his same love for the outdoors, which they now share with their families.

Bud was a champion card player, multi-team bowler and sponsor, and also a very talented, self taught musician. He read not a note, but entertained his family and community with his many accordions and organ playing for many years.

Bud's many business ventures included dairy farming, "Lyle Johnson TV & Radio Service", Johnson Service (snowmobile sales), custom hay baling for area farmers, flax straw baling for Olin and Schwietzer Corporations, SealStore Silo sales, and as a pioneer in the ethanol field, drove one of the first alcohol fueled vehicles in northeast SD.

Bud and Carol's move to Bristol became his passion. He became a city alderman, and was instrumental in developing the streets, and the new water system in Bristol. He was an instrumental part of the Bristol Community Store, Bristol Community Center, managing the operation of these entities throughout the years, along with serving as president of the Bristol Area Development Corporation for quite some time.

In 2000, he was honored with the American Hometown Leadership award which included a $5,000 check for his community. Lyle was able to travel to Washington DC with his family to receive this award, which was presented to him by Tom Daschle. It was one of the proudest moments of his life.

Bud and Carol were also honored by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in 2005 in appreciation for all of their volunteer service to the Bristol Community.

Grateful for having shared his life is his wife; Carol of Bristol, SD, six children, Lauren (Kathy), Bristol, SD, Paul (Karen), Webster, SD, Karen (Danny Sumner), Watertown, SD, Greg (Mary), Bristol, SD, Doug (Rhonda), Bristol, SD, Keith (Kerry), Hutchinson, MN., 19 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margaret (Osvald) Sparby.