Esther Johnson

Esther Isabelle Johnson was born to Odin and Marie (Skaar) Myrvik on August 24, 1917 in rural Minneota, Minnesota. She attended country school near Minneota and graduated from Minneota High School. She met her husband, Kenneth Johnson, at a house party that the teenagers attended to play games and visit. As the story goes she and Ken were involved in a game called “Wink-Em.” Esther and Kenneth were married on October 27, 1937 at the Lutheran parsonage in Hendricks, Minnesota. Their union was blessed with four children and 68 years of life together. They farmed near Arco until the fall of 1961 when they sold the farm and moved to Tyler, Minnesota where Kenneth had employment. Esther’s time was full as a farmwife, mother, and homemaker. Kenneth died February 25, 2006. Esther lived at Danebod Village until she entered Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in June 2009, where she died on Monday, January 30, 2012 at the age of 94 years, 5 months, and 6 days.

Esther was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota. She enjoyed quilting, handiwork, and reading. She loved visits from and to her children, grandchildren, sisters, and brothers. She raised beautiful African violets—a hobby encouraged by her sister.

Grateful for having shared her life are her four children: Kathleen Waltz of Hugo, Minnesota, James (and Laura) Johnson of Hamel, Minnesota, Diane DiPrete of Port Townsend, Washington, and Merry (and Daniel) Duame of Palmer, Alaska; 9 grandchildren: Michael (Anne) Waltz, Marc Waltz, Eric (Michele) Waltz, Wayne Johnson, Craig Johnson, Lori (Anthony) Hall, Shanti Hill, Andrea DiPrete, and Kari Duame; 10 great-grandchildren: Kaci, Jessica, Becca, Rachel, Abby, Parker, Riley, Gabby, Jayden, and Ayla; a brother, Raymond Myrvik of Minneota, Minnesota; a sister, Marion Buska of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; her parents; a son-in-law, Jerome Waltz; two brothers, Otto and Arnold Myrvik; and a sister, Myrtle Smith.