Alma Johnson

ALMA LEONA (NIELSEN) JOHNSON was born on February 27, 1928 to Jens Christian and Frederikke Georgenna (Hansen) Nielsen at the family farm Southwest of Tyler, Minnesota. Alma was baptized at the Danebod Lutheran Church on April 6, 1928. Alma lived on the farm until 1932 when the family moved to a farm North of Ruthton, Minnesota. Alma attended country school from 1st through 4th grade until the family moved to Holland in 1938. She then attended the school in Holland and graduated the 8th grade. Alma then attended high school in Pipestone, graduating in 1946. She began her new job at the hospital in November of 1947, until she married the love of her life, Donald Johnson, on August 27, 1950 in St. James Lutheran Church in Holland. The couple then built their house in Pipestone in 1953. Donald and Alma adopted their son, Allen, on November 11, 1955. Alma worked as the secretary and treasurer of AAL for 37 years along with taking care of Donald for 45 years before his passing on January 18, 1996. Alma passed away on December 7, 2021 at the age of 93.

As a faithful Christian, Alma was baptized in 1951 at the St. James Lutheran Church in Holland and served as a Sunday School teacher there while Allen attended. Alma was a member of an Extension Club and several different card clubs. During her free time, Alma took great joy in gardening. She not only planted flowers, but she also planted many different vegetables and fruits. Alma canned her vegetables and entered them into the local fairs every year until 2005. She also enjoyed crafting, crocheting, and traveling. Her greatest love of all was spending time with her friends and family members. Alma had her lifetime friend Lorence “Bud” Thomas move in with her. They spent five wonderful years together until Buds passing in November of 2011.

Alma is lovingly remembered by her beloved son, Allen (Keri) Johnson of Ahwatukee, Arizona; her grandsons, Daniel (Stacey), Jeremy and Nicholas; step-grandsons, Alex De Ber and Zachary (Laura) De Ber; two great-grandsons, Desmond Johnson and Nyko Cravens; one brother, Roger (Ardis) Nielsen of Springfield, Minnesota; one sister, Helen Maloney of Spring, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Marian Carsons of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Vida Johnson of Lake Benton, Minnesota; and many other loving friends and family members. Alma was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Johnson; sisters, Marie Enfield and Mildred Weinkauf; one brother, Earl Nielsen; brothers-in-law, Elmer Enfield, Robert Timm, Ernest Weinkauf, Ivan Johnson, Leonard Johnson, Floyd Johnson, Eldon Johnson, Albert Carstens, and George Manderscheid; sisters-in-law, Henrietta Nielson, Juaneta Nielsen, Estella Nielsen, Florine Johnson, June Johnson, Betty Johnson, and Dorothy Johnson; nephews, David Enfield, Douglas Johnson, Randy Manderscheid, and Roger Manderscheid; niece, Deborah (Keith) Kinner; god-child, Kathy Weinkauf; and her parents.