SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Former three-term U.S. Senator and five-term U.S. Representative Tim Johnson has died. Johnson died at 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to a family spokesperson. He was 77.
The family of the Vermillion native cited complications from a recent stroke and said Johnson was surrounded by family at the time.
Johnson had a long career in politics that took him all the way from his hometown of Vermillion, South Dakota to the nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C.
He had more than 30 years of public service in state and federal government and remains the last Democrat to serve in statewide office for South Dakota. Johnson never lost an election as a candidate.
After nearly a decade in the South Dakota State Legislature, Johnson served five terms as a United States Representative from 1987 to 1997 and then served three terms as a U.S. Senator from 1997 until 2015.
Johnson began his political career in the state legislature back in 1979.
It became the foundation for a long and storied political career with plenty of triumphs and tragedies.
In 1987, Johnson was elected to South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
During his tenure in Congress, Johnson supported many infrastructure projects that delivered clean drinking water to communities all across South Dakota and other states; like the Lewis and Clark Water pipeline and the Mni Wiconi Water Project that gave the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation safe and ample water supplies.
In 1996, Johnson decided to make a move and run for the U.S. Senate and narrowly defeated three-term Republican Senator Larry Pressler.
In 2002, Johnson ran for re-election and won against challenger (and his successor in the House), Congressman John Thune.
Four years later, in December 2006, Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage.
His recovery took nearly a year and in September of 2007, he returned to the Senate to both tributes and standing ovations. Despite his physical condition, Johnson had defeated Republican challenger Joel Dykstra with 62% of the vote.
Johnson chose not to seek re-election in 2014.
A statement from Johnson’s family said, “As a fourth generation South Dakotan, fighting for the state he loved was the greatest privilege of his life, but he considered his family his greatest blessing. Watching his three children and eight grandchildren grow and thrive with Barbara, his wife of 55 years, at his side brought him immense pride and joy.”
“Tim always quipped that neither the left, nor the right, had a monopoly on all of the good ideas, but that working together, we can find common ground for the good of our country. In his work and life, Tim showed us never to give up. He will be missed. Our lives are fuller for having been loved and supported by him.”
Johnson shares three children and eight grandchildren with his wife Barbara.
Details for services will be released soon.
