Irene B. Johnson, age 96, of Hendricks, MN passed away Friday, February 21, 2020 at the Hendricks Nursing Home in Hendricks. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at Christ Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Hendricks City Cemetery, Hendricks. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Prayer Service Tuesday, February 25th at the Hendricks Hospital Chapel and will resume Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Hendricks is entrusted with the arrangements.
Irene (Blaine) Johnson was born May 26, 1923 in Lake Benton, MN to Thomas and Luella (Sears) Blaine. She grew up and attended school in Lake Benton graduating from high school in 1941. After high school she was a nanny and had clerical jobs in Sioux Falls and Marshall.
She worked at the courthouse in Ivanhoe until her marriage to Robert Johnson, Sr. on December 20, 1945. Together they had 5 children: Elaine, Robbie, Patty, Julie and Sheryl. She was a homemaker and did the bookwork for the family business (Johnson Motors).
She was a lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary, several women’s clubs and Christ Lutheran Church women’s organizations. She taught Sunday School and was a boy scout den mother in her younger years.
Her hobbies included reading, crossword puzzles, crafting, baking, shopping and decorating her home for the different holidays. She loved seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren and spending time with them. She enjoyed going out for rides around town and of course the usual “trip around the lake!” She was very proud of her Scottish heritage. Irene loved to sing and listen to many types of music.
She is lovingly remembered by her children: Elaine Schlink of Brooklyn Park, MN, Robert Jr. (Betty) Johnson of Hendricks, MN, Patricia (Alan) Briggs of Sidney, IA, Julie (Lauren) Dykema of Rushmore, MN, and Sheryl (Scott) Pearson of Hendricks; 15 grandchildren: Mike, Todd & Ryan Johnson, Jessika & Jeff Schlink, Tom, Taylor & Ethan Pearson, Candice Dunn, Angela George, Amber & Hannah Briggs, Jared Dykema, Laura Olson and Erin Prins; 21 great grandchildren; and one sister, Mary Johnson of Vancouver, WA.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert of 68 years, her parents; two brothers, Floyd and Duane; and three sisters: Lorraine Knudsen, Shirley Olsen, and Carole Larsen.
She was loved and will be missed by many!
