Katie Johnson

Kathryn "Katie" Johnson, 86, of Kerkhoven, died Wednesday, March 4th at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. Her memorial service will be at 11:00 am, Tuesday, March 10th at Salem Covenant Church in rural Pennock. Visitation will be 5-7:00 pm, Monday, March 9th at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the church cemetery. www.hafh.org

Kathryn Ranee "Katie" Johnson was born on December 13, 1939, in Kerkhoven, Minnesota, the oldest child of Howard and Stella (Eliason) Ling. When Katie was just eight years old, her mother passed away. From a young age, she took on many responsibilities at home, helping raise her siblings, cooking meals, and sewing clothes. Throughout her life, Katie was known for always putting others before herself.

Katie attended Country School District 15 North through the seventh grade and later graduated from Kerkhoven High School in 1957. On November 12, 1960, she was united in marriage to Ardell Johnson at Salem Covenant Church. In 1964, the couple moved into the Johnson family farmhouse, where they made their home and raised their family. Katie devoted herself to caring for her children and managing the household. She loved cooking and baking for her family, while also helping with farm chores, including milking cows.

Katie was confirmed and became a member of Salem Covenant Church. Her faith was the most important aspect of her life, and she took great joy in passing those beliefs on to her children and grandchildren. She cherished the traditions she shared with her grandchildren, including making lefse with her granddaughters and preparing potato sausage with her grandsons each year. She never missed the chance to host a tea party for her grandkids.

Katie and Ardell enjoyed traveling together and created many memories on trips to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, as well as on numerous bus tours across the United States.

In her free time, Katie enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking, caring for her houseplants, attending Homemakers, Ladies Aid, and Covenant Women, serving as a 4-H leader, and collecting teapots. She also treasured the family's summer vacations at Lake Winnibigoshish when the children were young.

Above all, Katie loved her family. Especially the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Katie is survived by her husband, Ardell; children: Kara Rothers of Willmar, Lane Johnson of Kerkhoven, Jolene (Jan) Zuidema of Blomkest, and Warren (Stacy) Johnson of Pennock; grandchildren: Kelsey (Travis) Lamecker, Austin (Courtney) Rothers, Heather (Nathan) Sheneberger, Bethany Rothers, Sara Rothers, Dalen (Courtney) Zuidema, Nathan (Megan) Zuidema, Jessaca (Nic) Pieper, Jakob (Eva) Zuidema, Stuart (Samantha) Johnson, Johanna (Riley) Peterson, Simon (Katie) Johnson, Paul (Rosemary) Johnson, and Collin (Sydney) Johnson; great-grandchildren: Josephine, Marshal, Theodore, and Viva Lamecker, Noelle and Jean Sheneberger, Darcy Zuidema, Hattie and Eiley Zuidema, Stella, Kenton, Evelyn, Colette, and Vincent Johnson, Sophia, Oliver, and Elouise Peterson, Anna and Thomas Johnson, Richard, Peter, Patrick, and Vivian Johnson; and four on the way. Siblings-in-law: Jerry (Lana) Johnson, Margaret (Bruce) Brown, and Peggy Ling.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Andrew Johnson, and great-grandson, Arthur Lamecker, & siblings, Mary Johnson, DeAnn Nett, Donna Ling-Evans, and Steve Ling.