Mary Ann Louise Johnson of Cokato, passed away at Centra Care Health Center of Monticello on March 21, 2017.
Funeral Service: 10 AM Friday March 24, 2017 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 5-8 PM Thursday afternoon at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato and 1 hr. prior to service at church on Friday
Interment: Church Cemetery
Mary Ann Louise Johnson, the youngest child of Arvid and Sara Bergquist, was born in Dassel on December 9, 1922. She grew up in the rural areas around Dassel and Cokato, and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1940. Mary Ann was united in marriage to Kenneth Johnson on September 5, 1942 at her parents’ farm near Litchfield just prior to Ken’s military service. For the next three years, Mary Ann lived and worked in cities New York, Boston, Minneapolis and Long Beach, as Ken served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. She was a strong and courageous young woman who quickly learned to navigate life on her own during wartime while waiting for her husband to return from active duty. Mary Ann and Ken moved back to Cokato after he was discharged in October, 1945. They worked together to raise five children, manage an electrical business, and served as caretakers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. During these years, Mary Ann created a warm and loving home and worked for various local businesses including Nortronics, Fabritec, Green Giant, Jack and Jill, and Cokato Dry Cleaners. Throughout their life together, Mary Ann and Ken were active members of the Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, served on the Altar Guild and was a member of the LCW. Mary Ann and Ken loved traveling together. They especially enjoyed their trips to Sweden to visit her ancestral home, attending the Tin Can Sailors reunions, and spending time at the family cabin on Bass Lake near Brainerd.
Mary Ann was known for her kind, caring, and compassionate nature, as well as her humble character, gentle demeanor, and loving heart. She lived a life of faith and adherence to God’s Word. As a student of the Holy Scriptures, Mary Ann not only enjoyed studying the Bible, she put those words into practice in her everyday life. She freely gave the gifts of love, patience and self-acceptance to others because of her belief in God’s mercy for all as stated in some of her favorite verses:
No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair and just and merciful, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. Ephesians 4:32
Her entire family has been blessed by this remarkable woman and is thankful God placed them in this life together
Left to cherish Mary Ann’s memory are her children Nancy (Bill) Gunther of Fairmont, Pam (Dwight) Lundeen of Becker, Greg (Mary) Johnson of Delano, Jennifer (Darrell) Gorham of Coon Rapids, and Jim (Teri) Johnson of Big Lake, grandchildren Heather Trembley, Bill and Todd Gunther, Mike (Annica) Lundeen, Matt (Amber) Lundeen, Kristin (Barry) Bennett, Sara (Mike) Keefe, Adam Johnson, Josh (Anne) Gorham, Elyse (Brian) Pevensie, Scott Gorham, Zachary, Calab, Kate, and Brianna Johnson, great grandchildren Emily and Cecilia Trembley, Taylor Gunther, Gabby Lundeen, Drew, Kenzie and Zach Lundeen, Molly, Luke, and Anna Bennett, Evelyn and Cora Keefe, Signe, Trygve, Odin Gorham, Nettle and Jade Pevensie and many relatives and friends. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Johnson, parents, Arvid and Sara Bergquist, brother, Reuben Bergquist, and sister, Ruby Lien. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, March 24th at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato with visitation on Thursday evening from 5:00-8:00 pm. Interment will be in the Cokato Lutheran Church Cemetery.
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