Richard Lee "Dude" Johnson, 85, of Dakota passed away Friday, March 6, 2015 after a brief illness. He was born August 25, 1929 in Rockford. He retired from Knox Trucking in 1982, was a long time member of Teamsters Local 325, and served as their Vice President. Some of his favorite hours were spent raising and racing homing pigeons as a member of the East Rockford Pigeon Club, and playing with his beloved dog, Sawyer. On June 7, 1997 he married Marguerite (Selden) Fry at St. Paul Church of Epleyanna and moved with her to his dream home, the farm north of Davis. Dude's children are grateful for the love and care Maggie and her family provided him during their time together. Dude is lovingly survived by his wife, Maggie; six children, Jeffrey (Madalyn), of Mesa, AZ, Kristy (Bill) Ostergard, of Rockford, Gregory (Allison), of Gilbert, AZ, Lanny and Kirk of Rockford, and Casey, of Wintergarden, FL; 4 step-children Ronald (Christy) Fry, of Dakota, Sandra (Jim) Denneny, of DeSoto, MO, Cathleen (Loren) Ludeking, of Rock City, and Charles Fry of Union Grove, WI; one brother, Carl Steele, of Rockford; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his mother, Mary (Nickels) Steele, second wife, Ann (Espy) Johnson, and brother, John Johnson. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2015 at St Paul Church of Epleyanna, near Davis. Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until time of service Friday at St. Paul Church, and burial on Saturday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m. in Willwood Burial Park, Rockford. A memorial has been established in his name.