Funeral services for Ella Johnson, 93, of St. Peter, MN, formerly of Aurelia and Storm Lake, will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, May 16, 2013, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee with Pastor Jane Johnston and Pastor Delmar Carlson officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia. A memorial fund has been established.
Ella Evelyn Johnson was born on September 9, 1919, the daughter of Iver and Gerda (Jonsson) Johnson near Pierson, IA. Her parents were both immigrants from Sweden. Church and family was their life. They would visit relatives or friends after church and spend the day with them. She learned English in school, but never forgot her Swedish. She graduated from high school at Grand Meadow, IA, and attended National Business School in Sioux City for one year, graduating in 1937. On July 1, 1945 Ella was united in marriage to Verner Magnus Johnson at her parents’ farm at Grand Meadow. Ella worked packing parachutes during WWII, as a secretary for Iowa Public Service, and as the legal secretary for attorney Harlan Mohn. She retired in 1979.
Ella was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lutheran Women, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a great mother and grandmother. She was a talented seamstress, and enjoyed playing Phase 10, the piano, and reading.
Ella died Sunday, May 12, 2013, at the Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter, Minnesota.
Preceding Ella in death were her parents, her husband Verner on July 14, 1987, one sister, Margaret Kohn, and two brothers, Clarence and Arthur Johnson.
Survivors include five children; Richard and his wife Mary Johnson of Idaho Falls, ID, Thomas and his wife Becky Johnson of Mystic, IA, Lorne and his wife Barbara Johnson of Charles City, IA, Lynne Johnson of St. Peter, MN, and JoAnn and her husband Michael Westphal of Storm Lake. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren; Traci and husband Justin Hansen, Pam Johnson, Breck and wife Jenny Johnson, Tiffany Johnson, Bryan and wife Rui Johnson, Anna Johnson, Emily Johnson, Corey and wife Jody Virgil, Staci and husband Aaron Hember, Brandon and wife Abby Virgil, Nick and wife Barbara Westphal and Dave and wife Amber Westphal, 15 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.