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October 16, 2024

Staff member shares memories of Senator Tim Johnson

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – This Friday a funeral will be held for Senator Tim Johnson in Sioux Falls.

For 28 years former state director, Sharon Boysen, worked closely alongside Johnson and hundreds of staff members.

“It was just like a family. We all referred to it as the team Johnson family and we loved it,” Boysen.

With more than 30 years of public service in state and federal government, Boysen says he always made time for family.

“He made a point to have on his schedule that he would be home for dinner because Brendan and Kelsey were still home and they were in high school and they had ballgames and Tim always went,” Boysen said.

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Above all the things he was able to accomplish while representing South Dakota, Boysen says she’ll remember his character.

“He was everything that you would want for a good neighbor. You knew he would come help you shovel the sidewalk. You knew he would help you mow the lawn if you were out of town. And staff, we had hundreds of staff through 28 years of his service that are extremely loyal to him,” Boysen said.

Boysen says she’s ready to reunite with her team and the Johnson family this week in honor of him.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing everybody. Sadly, it’s at a funeral service. But yeah, we we appreciate the family, the Johnson family for sharing him with us,” Boysen said.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. KELOLAND News will have live stream coverage of the service in a special report.