Delia Johnson

Posted 3/21/03

Funeral services for Delia Johnson, 92, of Milaca, were held Saturday, March 15 at the Milaca Evangelical Free Church with the Rev. Jay Beuoy and the Rev. Tom Sahlstrom officiating.

Music was provided by Scott Johnson, Lloyd and Paul Neslund and Donna Pearson. Pallbearers were Randy Johnson, Steve Johnson, Robert Prins, John Kiel, Scott Johnson and Terry Augustson. Burial was in Estes Brook Cemetery at Oak Park, Minn.

Arrangements were with the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home of Milaca.

Delia Esther Elmina Lind Johnson was born in Milo Township near Foreston on July 7, 1910 to John and Mary (Larson) Lind, who came to America from Sweden in the late 1800s. She grew up on a farm they homesteaded in 1898 and attended elementary schools in the area before moving to St. Cloud to attend St. Cloud Technical High School. After graduation she did housework for families in Milaca and Minneapolis. On Aug. 22, 1936, Delia married Raymond E. Johnson at Milaca. They lived in south Minneapolis for about a year, then returned to the Milaca area. The couple had five children. During the first years, Delia and Ray attended the Estes Brook Free Church and then attended The Milaca Evangelical Free Church since 1943.

Deliaís life was characterized by a quiet, gentle and caring spirit. She was a farm wife who enjoyed gardening and indoor plants, sewing and handcraft projects and baking. She also loved music and in her youth was in a string band. She made a quilt for each of her 13 grandchildren. Delia grew beautiful flowers to give her church, made quilts with the White Cross group at church and taught Sunday School.

Her greatest joy was being involved with her grandchildren and attending their many school and church events. She also enjoyed traveling in the states and in Sweden. Her 81st birthday was spent with her fatherís family in Karlstad, Sweden (Varmland) and her motherís family in Tidaholm, Sweden (Vestergotland).

Delia was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her parents; her brother, Elmer; her sisters, Ellen (Emil) Swanson, Jennie (Carl) Neslund, Mildred (Carl) Neslund, and Irene (Alvar) Augustson; grandson, Ronald Johnson; granddaughter, Kristin Johnson; and great-grandson, Chad Rossman.

She is survived by children, Delores Huanca and husband David, Waldo Johnson and wife Judy, LeRoy Johnson and wife Mary, Harvey Johnson and wife Betty and daughter Beatrice Kiel; grandchildren, Terri Rustad and husband Andy, Renee Patterson and husband Brian, Randy Johnson and wife Jill, Robert Prins, Scott Johnson and wife Susan, Steven Johnson and wife Amy, Sara Plucinak and husband Steven, Jacque Johnson, Biana Johnson, Robin Johnson, Wendy Jurgensen and husband Joe, John Kiel and wife Melissa and Sandra Louison and husband Greg; 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; several Chinese grandchildren and great-grandchildren who adopted her; and many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.