Evelyn Marie Johnson, age 104, of Austin, MN, formerly of Glencoe, MN, and Tyler, MN, passed away on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin. A celebration of Evelyn’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton, MN, with visitation one hour before the service. Burial will be in the Ruthton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hartquist Funeral Home – Tyler Chapel.
Evelyn Marie Johnsonwas born in Rembrandt, Iowa, on April 16, 1917, to Rasmus and Anna (Petersen) Jensen. She moved with her family to a farm near Tyler, Minnesota, in 1918. She attended Star Country School, and boarded with an aunt while attending Tyler High School where she graduated in 1935. Later she graduated from the Capitol School of Cosmetology in Omaha, Nebraska. She returned to Minnesota and was a beautician in Windom, MN, and Ruthton, MN. On May 12, 1940, Evelyn married Melvin Johnson in Ruthton. They had two children, Maureen Steenblock and Cheryl (Cheri) Weismantel. She and Melvin ran the Fairway Grocery Store in Ruthton for many years before purchasing a motel in Brookings, SD, where they continued working until their retirement in 1968. They then wintered in Texas for many years. Evelyn passed away on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin, Minnesota at the age of 104 years, 10 months, and one day. Evelyn was a member of Eastern Star, Ruthton American Legion Auxiliary, Peace Lutheran Church, Ruthton Women’s Bowling League, Ruthton Grandmother’s Club, Tyler Danebod Ladies’ Danish Language Circle, and the Clown Club. Her hobbies included cooking and baking, playing cards, sewing, crafting, and visiting with family and friends. She was well known for baking Danish Kringle from her mother’s recipe.
Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Maureen Steenblock, of Austin, MN; two grandchildren, Lisa (Larry) Jurik of Zimmerman, MN, and Stacy (Kevin) Taylor of Waconia, MN; four great-grandchildren, Allison Jurik and Nicole Jurik of Zimmerman, Finneas Taylor of Waconia, and Mitchell Taylor of Omaha, Nebraska; and son-in-law, Lyle Weismantel of Spicer, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Johnson; daughter, Cheryl (Cheri) Weismantel of Spicer, MN; her parents; her sister Margaret Elston; and her three brothers, Harvey, Orville, and Marvin.
