Jo Ann Johnson

RAPID CITY - Jo Ann Johnson, 79, Rapid City died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, at Bella Vista Golden Living Center.

She was born May 26, 1932, at Pershing, Iowa, to Clyde and Birdie (Roberts) Long. She completed her education at Knoxville, Iowa, where she was active in their journalism programs and became an Iowa All-Stater on the girls' basketball team. After high school she was employed as secretary to the advertising manager of the Bankers Life Insurance Co., in Des Moines.

In 1953 she married her high school sweetheart, Keith Johnson who was attending Iowa State University studying veterinary medicine. While there she was employed at the University Publications Office.

In 1955, after graduation, they lived in Minneapolis where Keith served in the U.S. Air Force. They moved to Rapid City in 1957 where Keith operated the Mountain View Veterinary Clinic.

Jo Ann was the proud mother of four children and in later life became an accomplished quilter, making scores of beautiful quilts. Many went to her children and grandchildren. Her two daughters enjoyed learning the skills of cooking and sewing from her.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Dr. Keith Johnson; daughters, Amy White, Rapid City, and Nancy (Matthew) Wyatt, Silverthorne, Colo.; sons, David Johnson, Blythe, Calif., and Rev. Paul (Kyoko) Johnson, Toyko, Japan; grandchildren, Marjorie (Micah) Tindor, Columbus, Ohio, Joel White, Rapid City, and Kenji, Megumi and Mina Johnson of Tokyo; and her sister, Donna Randol (Richard) of Knoxville, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother.

We appreciate the loving care she received for almost two years at the Bella Vista Golden Living Center.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Peter Moe officiating. Burial will be at the Pine Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Alzheimer's Research or Storybook Island.

Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.osheimschmidt.com.