Laverne Johnson

Laverne Ella Johnson, 83, a former resident of Rothsay, Minnesota died Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at the Barrett Care Center.

Laverne was born the daughter of Anna (Scheffler) and Elof Norgren on June 27, 1930 in Elizabeth, MN. She was baptized on July 27, 1930, and confirmed on May 21, 1944 by Reverend G. Grabarkewitz at Augustana Lutheran Church in Elizabeth. Laverne grew up in Elizabeth and attended school District #37. After her schooling she worked as a nanny and housekeeper for the Hartman family in Elizabeth.

On September 3, 1955 Laverne (Lovey) married Garnet Johnson at the St. Johns Lutheran Church parsonage in Elizabeth, MN. The couple farmed in Tanberg Township, rural Rothsay where they raised three daughters and a son. Shortly after her husband’s sudden death in 1991, Lovey moved into Rothsay heart broken. In 1998, Laverne relocated to Fergus Falls where in 2006 she suffered a severe stroke. In 2008 she transferred to the Good Samaritan Center in Hoffman and most recently Lovey was a resident at the Barrett Care Center.

The nickname Laverne’s father Elof gave her of “Lovey” rang true throughout her long life. Lovey was dedicated to her husband and family, always following her children and grandchildren in all of their activities. Canning, baking and cooking for the family were staples of this mother’s past time. Laverne loved to garden, tending to her many indoor plants year round. Grandma Lovey was renowned for her freezer full of cookies, always having plenty of vanilla ice cream with toppings on hand. Laverne stocked her pantry full of the seasons’ bounty, somehow canning just enough peaches to make it through a long winter. Way before the days of text and email, she enjoyed keeping up on the local happenings through phone conversations with friends. Never one to turn down a game of whist, Lovey was also known to cut a rug on the dance floor. For most of her life Laverne was active at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rothsay, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Ladies Aid. Lovey’s gentle heart and kind smile touched the lives of many over the years and she will truly be missed.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband Garnet; twin sister Fern Stras and brother Kermit Norgren; brothers-in-law: Eugene Holt, Herbert Thom, Robert Thom.

Survivors include four children; Wanda (Doug Moe) Dagen of Herman, Kathy (Paul) Bartells of Elbow Lake, Judy Hunt of Fergus Falls, Robbie Johnson of Sauk Rapids; nine grandchildren, Michael (Amber Fletschock) Dagen , Adam (Svea) Dagen, Gary (Sallie) Armstrong, Shawn (Mary Conroy) Armstrong, Tiffany (Laith) Stundahl, Brian (Rachel) Hunt, Heather (Cole) Ouse, Derek Johnson, Mathew Johnson; six great-grandchildren, Aurora Armstrong, Ronan Armstrong, Kaden Armstrong, Levi Stundahl, Jasmine Grundyson , Phoenix Hunt; siblings; Elof (Bonnie Anderson) Norgren Jr. of Elizabeth, Eleanor Holt of Fergus Falls, Ruth Thom of Fergus Falls, Mae (Harold) Haugen of Fergus Falls, Joyce Thom of Detroit Lakes, Janice (Charles) Vangsness of Goodhue; sisters-in-law, Dianna Norgren of Fergus Falls, Dorothy (Vernon) Knutson of Fergus Falls, Doris (Ole) Ostlund of Barnesville.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2014, with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2014 at New Life Lutheran Church in Rothsay, MN
Clergy: Reverend Paul Huso
Interment: Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery, Rothsay, MN
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls