Myrna Jean Johnson was born to Fred Virgil and Elsie Dorothy (Wodtke) Johnson on October 16, 1937, in Hendricks, Minnesota. She was raised on a farm in Drammen Township, northwest of Lake Benton, Minnesota, where she attended school in District 17. She continued her education at Lake Benton High School. After her high school graduation in 1955, she helped at home. In 1955, she became the housekeeper for five different families in the area. From 1963 to 1973, she cooked at Lake Shetek Baptist Bible Camp. She also cooked at Camp COBC at Lake Shetek for six years. During this time, her mother became ill, so Myrna became her caregiver until her mother died in 1974. In 1982, she moved with her father to Hole in the Mountain Apartments in Lake Benton. After her father’s death, she continued to live there for several years, until January of 2020, when she became a resident of Avera Sunrise Manor in Tyler, Minnesota. On Monday, March 9, 2020, Myrna died peacefully at the age of 82 years, four months, and 24 days.
At around age 12, Myrna accepted Jesus as her savior and was baptized and joined First Baptist Church in Lake Benton. She loved to spend her time reading her Bible. She also enjoyed helping her neighbors and had a very sharp mind that retained a vast knowledge of those in her community and each person she met.
Though her immediate family was small, Myrna is lovingly remembered by many cousins and her church community. She was preceded in death by her parents; aunts and uncles; and several cousins.
A funeral service will be on Friday, March 13, 2020, at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Lake Benton. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service. Interment will follow at Memorial Hill Cemetery in Lake Benton. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hartquist Funeral Home – Lake Benton Chapel.
