Josephine Johnson

Josephine L. Johnson, 94, Barrett, died Tuesday, April 06, 2010, at Stevens' Homes Plus, Barrett, under the care of Lakeland Hospice and Home Care with her family at her side. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 9, 2010, at the Kensington Covenant Church in Kensington with the Rev. David T. Wallin and Rev. Don Trulson officiating. Burial will be in the Fredens Lund Cemetery, Elbow Lake. Visitation will be Thursday from 4-7 pm at the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake; visitation will resume at the church on Friday one hour prior to the service. Josephine was born on March 22, 1916, to Olof and Karin "Carrie" (Myrin) Milen, immigrants from Sweden. She was raised on the Milen homestead in Elk Lake Township, Grant County, Minnesota. Josephine was baptized and confirmed at the Barrett Mission Covenant Church, attended country school in District 35 through the eighth grade, and graduated from Barrett High School in 1933. On October 18, 1947, Josephine was united in marriage to Melvin Harold Johnson at the parsonage in Kensington. She and Melvin lived on a farm three miles south of Elbow Lake. She was a farmer's wife and helpmate who made a wonderful home for her family. Following Melvin's death in 1974, Josephine moved to Barrett and, for the past five and a half years, had been living at Stevens' Homes Plus east of Barrett. She was a dedicated member of the Barrett Mission Covenant Church where she served as organist and was active with the ladies aid, Sunday school, and held several church offices. As the last surviving member, Josephine facilitated its' closing. She was currently a member of the Kensington Covenant Church. In recent years, she joined her family in worship at the Grace Evangelical Free Church in Elbow Lake. Josephine was devoted to helping family and friends, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and she shared her love for Jesus through her actions and prayers. Whatever the project she undertook, Josephine was faithful in giving her very best. She was also interested in family history, journaling, writing letters, and even wrote a book with her friend Evelyn Quist, "A Door to Door History of Barrett, Minnesota, Past and Present." Josephine was also interested in birds and recorded many bird songs. Survivors include her children Harlan Johnson of St. Cloud and Luanne (Roger) Rollie of Elbow Lake; grandchildren Rachel Rollie, Laura Rollie (fiance' Kevin Erlandson), Jennifer (Daniel) O'Donnell, and Rebecca Johnson, and one great-grandson, David O'Donnell; four nieces and one nephew. Josephine will also be missed by Dona and Douglas Stevens and the care givers at Stevens' Homes Plus, who were also her family for the past five and a half years. Josephine was preceded in death by her husband Melvin; her parents Olof and Carrie Milen; siblings John-Magnie, Esther Thompson, Oscar, Annie, Rudolph, Hjalmer, Myrtle Anderson, and Harold.

---