Norma J Johnson

Norma Joyce Johnson, 86, a resident of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, died Friday, May 11, 2018 at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls, MN. Norma Joyce Johnson was born May 12, 1931 the daughter and only child of Clifford and Gladys (Lindsay) Rouse, in Lyon County (Marshall, Minnesota area).  She was baptized in Lyon County and confirmed at Strawberry Lake Mennonite Church. In 1948 Norma graduated from Detroit Lake High School.  On June 25, 1952 she was united in marriage with Donald L. Johnson.  They moved to Montana where they lived and worked on a ranch for Vernie Larson.  After about a year they returned to the farm near Pelican Rapids.  Norma worked on the farm with Donald and raised their four children. She would do whatever it took to support her family, from raising a huge garden and selling produce and baked goods at the family produce stand, cleaning cabins for lake residents, helping with chores on the family farm. For a number of years she worked at West Central Turkeys on the box line. Norma was the classic farmer’s wife, working and doing whatever it took to support the family and the farm. Even in the years after their children were grown, Norma continued to raise a huge garden and bake homemade goods. Her specialties included pecan pie, sugar cookies, flatbread, rosettes, and sour cream-raisin pies. She also made homemade preserves such as chokecherry jelly and rhubarb jam. All of these were available at her stand at the Farmers’ Market.  Norma enjoyed embroidery, especially embroidering dish towels. Norma was a long-time member of Grove Lake Lutheran Church and was involved in the church choir, Ladies Aid, WELCA, and many circles throughout the years. She was a task master at church, knowing how to organize a funeral or luncheon. If anyone had a question about a church function, many times the answer was “Ask Norma”. Norma enjoyed gardening, Saturday morning coffee with “the coffee ladies”, her farmer’s market stand and getting together with friends and family.  Norma and Don were avid Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings fans. For 18 years Norma and Don spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. Norma enjoyed gatherings at the community center in Apache Junction.  Norma is preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years Donald, mother Gladys (Lindsay) Rouse; father Clifford Rouse; and her “like a sister” sister in law Edna (Edward) Sjogren. Norma is survived by her Four children: David (Patty) Johnson, Michael (Deb Abbey) Johnson, Pat (Brad) Tollerud, & Wayne (Dena) Johnson, all of Pelican Rapids; twelve grandchildren: Kristina Johnson, Shane (Brittany) Johnson, Jennifer (Aaron) Field, Thomas Fradet, Adam (Ingrid) Johnson, Todd Johnson, Staci (Darin) Allmaras, Mandi (Ryan) Kurzweg, Brady (Paula) Tollerud, Kati (Jon) Thorland, Ian Johnson and Grace Johnson and seventeen great-grandchildren; and niece, Sue Nyhus. Memorials preferred to the Lake Region Cancer Center or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Visitation: Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Larson Funeral Home in Pelican Rapids, MN. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial Service: 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at Grove Lake Lutheran Church, Rural Pelican Rapids, Minnesota with Pastor Tessa Hanson officiating. Burial: Grove Lake Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Please keep the Johnson family in your thoughts and prayers Norma's Memorial Folder