Frances Leona Johnson ….

Frances Leona Johnson

1928-2021

Frances Leona Johnson was born Oct.

31, 1928, at 7:30 a.m. in Hatton, North Dakota to Vigo and Ragnild Onstad.

Frances married her husband of 71 years, Wallace Johnson, not long after World War II on Dec. 3, 1949, in the Mission Church of Balaton, Minnesota. She lived with and loved him up to the time of her peaceful passing, in her home on Sept. 18.

Frances was strong and ambitious. As a teenager, she harvested potatoes in the blistering heat of Minnesota and North Dakota summers. As a young woman, she beat polio. Frances had two sons, and after they finished school, she worked several jobs outside the home and ran her own successful rental cleaning business. Frances was a Bible Study Fellowship discussion group leader and teacher for many years and had a tough time retiring because the women really loved her. Frances also reviewed and critiqued papers for a prison Bible study group for many years.

One of Frances’ favorite things to do, besides traveling to new and interesting places, was singing. Frances and Wally sang hundreds of times over the last 25 years for the Leisure World Baptist and Pentecostal churches, as well as The Salvation Army.

Frances and Wally, along with friends and relatives, went on many cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, the Mediterranean and through the Panama Canal and took many trips to countries such as Norway, Sweden, Russia, Germany and Israel. They also drove their camper up to the Alcan Highway to Alaska and to most National Parks.

Frances loved to cook big Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners for her family and friends. Holidays and birthdays were special occasions, and she always went out of her way to make everyone who attended feel special. Frances also loved to read, her Bible mostly, but a good mystery was always on the list.

Frances embodied the verses out of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Frances leaves behind her husband, Wally; her two sons, Kim and Tab; their wives, Pam and Sarah; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and countless friends, who all know she is with her savior and Lord, Jesus, who was born, lived a sinless life, died for her and their sins, and was raised again, which gives them the sure and present hope that they will see her again.