Sherry Karen Johnson

SHERRY KAREN JOHNSON was born May 6, 1933, in San Francisco, California. She was adopted at age two by Nona Nelson Preston Gray. They made their home in New York, New York until 1939, when she and Nona traveled by train to Tyler, Minnesota. They then made their home on the Marshfield family farm with her grandparents, Mr. And Mrs. C. O. Nelson and her uncles, Stanley and Anker Nelson. Sherry started school in the Marshfield Country School District No.3. In 1944, Nona died and Sherry was then adopted by her aunt and uncle, Marguerite and Hugh McCaffrey of Verdi, Minnesota. Sherry graduated from Verdi High School in 1951.

On September 15, 1951, Sherry and Dennis Vern Johnson were united in marriage at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota.  This was the church her grandfather, Patrick McCaffrey, had helped to build and where both Sherry and Dennis’ parents were also married. Dennis and Sherry spent the first two years of their married life in San Francisco, California, where Dennis was stationed in the Marine Corp. They returned to a farm five miles south of Lake Benton, Minnesota in December of 1953. There they raised their four children, Pamela, Christine, Michael and Thomas.  The couple was later blessed with nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Sherry was devoted to her family, church, community, and country.  She was a tireless home maker and volunteer. The couple hosted two foreign exchange students, Roberto from Tampico, Mexico and Emilio from Volta Rodonda, Brazil. St. Genevieve Catholic Church was very important to Sherry. She served in many capacities including teaching CCD classes for 25 years, serving as a parish trustee for nine years, as chairmen of the Parish Liturgy Committee for many years, a parish song leader for 21 years, and as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist from 1980 to 2011.  Serving on the Parish Centennial Committee, she helped to write the parish history for its centennial. Sherry served in many offices for the Council of Catholic Women at the local and regional levels; serving on the New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women board for 14 years and attending 27 National Council of Catholic Women conventions. She was a life member of the Associates of the National Council of Catholic Women. In 2008, she was named Catholic Woman of the Year in the New Ulm Diocese. After moving to Marshall, Sherry became a member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Joan of Arc #1291.

Sherry was an associate member of the Lake Benton Chamber of Commerce from 1988-2011. She was a member of the Lake Benton School PTA for 23 years, a 4-H adult leader for 25 years, a past president and member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1967, and a charter member of Lake Benton Historical Society and Vision in Progress Club. Sherry served on the Lake Benton Beacon staff and the Lincoln County Promotion and Tourism board. She was the Lincoln County delegate to the Southern Minnesota Tourism Association for 14 years. Sherry served as an officer on the Laura Ingalls Wilder Highway 14 and the Historic Highway 75 King of Trails Coalition committees.  She and her husband, the late Dennis Johnson, received the honor as Citizens of the Year from the Lake Benton Chamber on October 17, 2007.

Sherry and Dennis loved to travel. They enjoyed visiting countries in Europe, South America, and Mexico. They also traveled extensively around the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. In 1997 Sherry joined the NCCW pilgrimage to Rome and Genazzano, Italy.   In 2000, Sherry attended the Dedication of Mary’s Garden at the Basilica of the U.S. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.  In 2003, she made a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin. In 2008, Sherry made a pilgrimage to Rome with Archbishop John C. Nienstedt to see him receive his pallium. Another pilgrimage was made in 2013 to Quebec with Bishop John LeVoir to celebrate the canonization of St. Katiri Tekekwetha in Kahnawake, and a final pilgrimage to Hanceville, Alabama to Mother Angelica’s Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Sherry was a promoter of the Miraculous Medal since 1962 and a devout member of the Schoenstatt Mothers. Sherry enjoyed her friends and neighbors, her many bridge partners, The Schoenstatt Mothers, The Council of Catholic Women, Beta Club, Valley Extension Club, and Red Hats. Her love and devotion as wife, mother, and grandmother always brought the most joy. On November 26, 2011, Sherry moved to Boulder Estates in Marshall to begin her retired life and on December 7, 2018, Sherry passed away peacefully at the age of 85 years, seven months, and one day.

Sherry is survived by her daughter, Pamela (LaWayne "Red") Petersen and their children, Sarah (Joseph) Lamia and Paul (Jessica) Petersen; her daughter, Christine (William) Knutson and their children, Kelley and John Knutson; her son, Michael (Lisa) Johnson and their children, Jennie (Lindsay) Anderson and Kendra (Alex) Rowan; and her son, Thomas (Tami) Johnson and their children, Mytchell Johnson, Alex Belmont, and Monte Belmont. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Madilyn, Andrew, and Sophia Lamia, Brooke and Dashiell Petersen, Georgia and Audrey Knutson, and Payton Rowan. Sherry was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Dennis V. Johnson.

Blessed be her memory.