Darrell was born June 8, 1933 on a farm in Humboldt County to Peter and Petra (Andersen) Larsen. At the age of four, he was adopted by Robert and Opal Johnson. He was raised and educated in Webb, Iowa. On January 1, 2000, he married Esther (Koob) Higgins at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They were the first couple married there this century.

Darrell enjoyed attending auctions and racing. He was a member of the Iowa-Minnesota Chuckwagon Racers Association. During his time with the Racers Association he raced the White J Wagon over 25 years.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Esther; his children: Roger (Lynette) of Jackson, Minnesota; Vickie (Dan) Sorenson of Coralville, Iowa; Karla (Butch) Markley of Ruthven, Iowa; step-children: Diane (Les) Bacon of Humboldt, Iowa; Kathy (David) French of DeLand, Florida; Judy (Ted) Sharp of Knoxville, Iowa; Shane (Cari) Higgins of Remsen, Iowa; step son-in-law Doug (Lorrie) Bacon of Humboldt, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; many great grandchildren; his sister, Edna Sheehan of Humboldt, Iowa; his brother, Lloyd (Theresa) Larsen of Des Moines, Iowa; extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Cathy Chapman; his sisters, Elsie, Lillian, Violet, and Louse; His brothers, Lawrence, Magnus, Carl, Harlan, Bill, Arnold, and Warren.