Lillian B. Johnson

Lillian B. Johnson, 93, of Decorah, Iowa, formerly of Mason City, passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah of natural causes. Visitation was held at 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 23, with funeral services following at 4 p.m. at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah. Burial was in the Bricelyn Cemetery in Bricelyn, MN. Lillian Bernice Johnson was born December 6, 1918, the daughter of Guy and Mabel (Range) Beaver, in Rake, Iowa. She attended rural school through the eighth grade and graduated in 1936 from Rake High School. Lillian married Clarence C. Johnson of Bricelyn, MN, on December 9, 1939 at the Bricelyn Lutheran Church Parsonage. Lillian and Clarence farmed in rural Bricelyn, where daughters Vivian and Mary were born. In 1952, the family moved to Northwood, IA, where Clarence worked for Johnson's Feed Supply, and Lillian attended classes at Mason City Junior College and Drake University. In 1959, the Johnsons moved to Mason City, IA, where Clarence worked for the Hy-Cross Chick Company, and eventually purchased the hatchery business along with partner Garth Rathjen. Lillian continued her education, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Drake University. Lillian was a teacher for elementary and middle school students at Grafton, IA and Mason City for 25 years. She was an active church member and Sunday School teacher everywhere she lived. After her husband's passing on December 1, 2004, Lillian lived in several care facilities, including the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home and Assisted Living facility, and the Aase Haugen Home, both in Decorah. Lillian enjoyed RV traveling, the company of family and friends and spending winters in Arizona with her husband. She freely dispensed her wisdom about getting the work done before play, and the value of taking nature walks. Lillian was preceded in death by her husband Clarence; her parents, Guy and Mabel (Range) Beaver of Rake, Iowa; one sister, Bonnie (Beaver) Carlson of Rake; four brothers: twin brother Lyle of Warrensburg, MO, Maynard of Albert Lea, MN, Vernon of Traer, IA, and Robert of Albert Lea. She is survived by her brother, Gene Beaver of Costa Mesa, CA; two daughters, Vivian Achenbach of Prairie du Chien, WI; and Mary (Peter) Jorgensen of Decorah; five grandchildren, Mark (Debra) Sunde of Harrisonville, MO; Mike (Ruth) Sunde of Spokane, WA; Greg (Karen) Sunde of New Glarus, WI; Sara (Jason) Nottestad of Decorah, and Zachary Jensen of Decorah. Lillian is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Marcus, Dallas and Savannah Sunde, Raymond and Lane Sunde and Joseph Nottestad.