Marilyn Johnson

Marilyn Ann Johnson, 77, of Dalton, died Saturday, August 21, 2010, at the Lakeland Hospice House in Fergus Falls. She was born November 29, 1932, in Dalton, Minnesota, the daughter of Alvin E. and Emma (Rovang) Larson. She attended grade school in Dalton, and high school in Fergus Falls, graduating in 1950. On May 10, 1953, she married Thomas Johnson in Dalton. After their marriage the couple resided in Fergus Falls. Marilyn was employed for several years at Sears Roebuck, for three years at Fir Avenue Grocery, was the owner for two years of Tom’s Grocery, and also worked at the Hallmark Store. For 22 years she worked for the Fergus Falls School District #544 as a special education para-professional, and has always had a special place in her heart for all her students. She retired in 1995. In 1977 she and Tom moved to Rose Lake near Dalton. She was a member of Zion-Sarpsborg Church, the Dalton Lions, and the American Legion Auxiliary, where she served for 42 years. Marilyn enjoyed playing cards with her friends, baking and cooking for her family, going to the casinos, and loved traveling with Tom to Hawaii in the fall and Texas in the winter. She was most happy spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents, her mother-in-law, Hazel Mueller, and two brothers-in-law, Donald Johnson and Robert Johnson. Survivors include her husband, Thomas, of Rose Lake, rural Dalton; four children: Pam (Bob) Mansfield of Colorado Springs, CO, Tom “Butch” (Cyndi) Johnson of Fergus Falls, Dave (Xuyen) Johnson of Oahu, HI, and Becky (Tim) Navratil of Rothsay; nine grandchildren: Jena (Randy) Pierce, Tom (Darcy) Landberg, Meghan Mansfield, Alyssa (Matt) Kangas, Jessica Johnson, Eric Johnson, and Steven, Shawn, and Kyle Lovan; one great-granddaughter, Isabella Marie Landberg; her siblings: Lorraine (George) Karch, Elaine Johnson, Gene (Laureen) Larson, Marge Gaston, Wes (Barb) Larson, and Daryl (Jackie) Larson; two sisters-in-law, Barb (Bill) Herrick and Judy Johnson, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with a 6:45 p.m. prayer service, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, August 28, 2010, at Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church, Dalton Clergy:  Pastors Mark Johnson and Bret Boe Interment: Sarpsborg Cemetery, rural Dalton Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls