Jane Johnson

Jane Dorothy Erie was born on November 29, 1922 in Tyro Township, Yellow Medicine County to Alfred and Jennie (Rudell) Erie, the youngest of five children.  She was baptized on Alfred’s birthday, December 16, 1922 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Clarkfield.  She would later be confirmed at the same church.  The Rudells were a large close family and Jane grew up surrounded by cousins who would remain her friends throughout her life.

Jane attended Clarkfield Public school through her sophomore year in high school when the family moved to Douglas County.  She graduated from Kensington High School.  She enjoyed singing in the chorus, playing trombone in the pep band and being in school plays.

Jane met Reuben Johnson on January 1, 1945 and they were married December 27 of the same year at Trinity Lutheran Church in Holmes City.  They would move several times in the early years, eventually settling on their farm South of Garfield in 1956.  They attended St. Luke’s Church in Garfield where Jane was an active member for sixty years.  In 1979 Reuben and Jane moved to the farm where Reuben was born.  Reuben passed away in 1996 and Jane stayed on the farm until moving to Bethel Manor in July 2007.  She lived there until becoming ill in October 2017, when she moved to Bethany Home.

Jane enjoyed the outdoors and always worked with Reuben on the farm.  In later years she also enjoyed helping her son David and grandson Adam and always enjoyed house sitting the farm and dogs when David & Kathy were gone. Jane had a talent for meeting people and especially enjoyed her years working at Pete’s Super Valu during World War II and later at Johnson Grocery in Garfield.  She knew the regular customers and remembered them as long as she lived.  Some of them became lifelong friends.

Jane passed away on November 18, 2017 just a few days short of 95 years.  She is survived by her children Karen (Duane) Flom of Olivia and David (Kathy) Johnson of Alexandria.  Her three grandchildren Nathan (Jen) Flom of Minnetonka, Adam (Jill) Johnson, of rural Garfield and Annmarie (Travis) Suess of Olivia, and her seven great grandchildren;  Tyler & Gavin Flom, Levi, Ian and Abigail Jane Johnson, and Gabriel and Elijah Suess.  She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Jane was preceded in death by Reuben and their infant son; her parents; her four siblings and their spouses, Cora (John) Sullivan, Oliver (Irene), Alton (Marie) and Loren (Helen) Erie and Reuben’s siblings and spouses, Ellen, Signe, Anna (Walfred), Bernard (Ida), Joel ( Esther ), Anselm and Eskil (Lauretta) Johnson, along with many cousins and close friends.

Memorial service will be held on Monday, November 27, 2017, 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Garfield.  Burial will be at White Garden Cemetery.  Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net