Beverly Johnson

Beverly Rose Johnson was born January 23, 1935 to Albert and Vera (Hatch) Thompson on the family farm near Holland, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian Church in Holland. She attended elementary school in Holland and graduated from Pipestone High School in 1952. She went to Lamberton, Minnesota for a year of teacher training and began teaching elementary school in Ruthton, Minnesota in 1953. She went on to teach in Balaton and Tyler, Minnesota, having received her degree from Mankato State College in 1967. In all, she taught 24 years before retiring in 1982. On October 2, 1954 Bev married Duane Johnson at the Holland Presbyterian Church. Their union was blessed with three sons and almost 61 years of life together. After their marriage the couple lived on a farm near Ruthton until 1958 when they moved into Tyler. On Sunday, August 23, 2015 Bev died at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 80.

Bev was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. She had been very active as a young person at her Holland church, teaching Sunday School and Bible School, and serving as president of the Southwest District Youth Group of Presbyterians. At First English Lutheran Church she served on the Board of Education, as a Sunday School teacher, and a helper in the midweek Logos program. She was talented in scrapbooking and playing piano, and enjoyed reading, cooking, listening to music, golfing, and traveling, including riding motorcycle and snowmobile. She enjoyed all of her time with her family, and especially with her grandchildren.

Bev is lovingly remembered by her husband, Duane of Tyler; her sons, Dan (friend Scott) and Kevin (Marlene), both of Tyler; three grandchildren, Derek (Chandale) Johnson, Melissa (Brody) Padgett, and Brittany Johnson (friend Rainey Reynolds); a great-grandson, Nolan Johnson; a brother, Marlin (Audrey) Thompson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Michael; her parents; brother Albert Thompson; half-sister, Alma Doeksen; and half-brothers, Gerald, Kenneth, Harley, Wayne, and Vern Houchen.

Blessed be her memory.