Virginia Hope Johnson, 84, of Bemidji, died on Monday, March 12, 2007, at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at First Lutheran Church in Bemidji with Rev. James Darchuk officiating. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. The Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home of Bemidji assisted the family with arrangements.
Honorary pallbearers will be Kjersten Gmeiner, Kalen Gmeiner, Margot Hendricks, Max Kelsey, Lindsay Kiceina, Sam Kiceina and Anna Kiceina.
She was born on Aug. 17, 1922, to Arthur and Solvey (Torgeson) Stenlund, in Gonvick. She attended school in Clearbrook, graduating from Clearbrook High School in 1940. She graduated from the Minneapolis Comptometer School in 1942. She also attended Bemidji State University, graduating in 1961. She worked for Armour and Company in St. Paul, Minn. and the Great Northern Railroad in Great Falls, Mont. during the years 1943-1947. On Nov. 18, 1947, she married W. E. "Swede" Johnson in Cass Lake. She was a schoolteacher and librarian in Red Lake for 22 years, retiring in June of 1983.
She enjoyed crochet work, making afghans and quilts and playing bingo and bridge. She will be remembered for her great sense of humor, her ability to laugh and her boundless generosity, in addition to her lemon pie, chocolate cake and divinity candy. Family was an important part of her life. She referred to her children and grandchildren as the "jewels" of her life. She was a member of First Lutheran Church for more than 50 years. She also volunteered at the Bemidji Senior Center.
ADVERTISEMENT
She is survived by her daughters, Jan Johnson of Seattle, Wash., Pamela (Michael) Kelsey of Bemidji, Kate (Dave) Kiceina of Ferndale, Wash. and Wendy Seely, Olympia, Wash.; son, Bob (Gerry) Johnson of Green Bay, Wis.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; sister, Marlyce (Don) Taylor of Helena, Mont.; brothers, Kenneth (Ollie) Stenlund of Great Falls and Doug (Jan) Stenlund of Denver, Colo.; and two special friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers, Buddy and Marvin Stenlund; and a great-grandson.
Memorials may be directed to House of Hospitality in Bemidji, First Lutheran Church in Bemidji, the People's Church in Bemidji or North Country Hospice in Bemidji.
Online guest book at www.olsonschwartzfuneralhome.com .
--Paid obituary
