A Pierre man received a special surprise this week thanks to a friend of his and some folks at a Fort Pierre construction company.
Larry Johnson had operated a payloader when he worked for the South Dakota Highway Department in the mid-1960s. A friend noticed he’d comment that it’d be fun to drive one again anytime he went past one. Those comments set in motion a plan for Thursday (May 28, 2026)— his 73rd birthday.
The friend reached out to Morris, Inc., explained the situation and Morris was willing to help. Under the guise of being taken to lunch for his birthday, the friend drove Johnson to the Euclid Avenue work site, where they were ready for him to climb up into one of their payloaders and let him “work” for a bit.
When the “work” was finished, Johnson commented to a Morris employee that he hoped his dad was smiling down on him while he was driving the payloader.
Courtesy photo.
Courtesy photo.
Larry Johnson with Morris, Inc. Division Manager TJ Gallagher.
Courtesy photo.
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