Esther Johnson

Esther Mae Collison was born April 10th, 1915 near Sturgis, SD on a homestead with a Post Office address of Alkali, SD. At the young age of 6 months the family moved to Willow Lakes, SD, then to Poplar Township, Cass County, MN in 1920 until the fall of 1929. They went to Missouri, but due to drought went to near Ponca, NE. The family returned to MN the next year. She attended school at Garfield and Poplar in Cass County, MN and earned a high school equivalency diploma while working at the Nursing Home in Staples. She married Elmer Johnson on 15th of September 1934 at a double wedding at the home of the groom's parents in Poplar Township. Elmer's brother, Herman and his bride, Hattie Montgomery were the other half of the wedding party. The groom's uncle, Rev. Johan Johnson performed the wedding ceremony, having it performed at the groom's parents was an old Telemark, Norwegian custom. They celebrated a double 50th Wedding Anniversary at Oylen, MN in 1984. Esther was a homemaker living on a farm; in her younger years she raised chickens. In 1947 after her father-in-law's death, her family spent the fall and winter in WA and Idaho. They worked and lived on a Turkey Farm near Kelso, WA, and near Potlatch, ID before returning to MN. Esther was always ambitious and worked hard. She helped Elmer harvest June Grass seed in the 1950s, harvested wild rice in the 1950s and 60s and help cut pulp for a few years. After a short stint on a Turkey Farm, she and Elmer moved to Bullard Township in Wadena County, MN in 1968. She ran a green house for a few years in the mid 1970s (1972-76) at her home and worked as a nurse's aide at the Mary Randolph Nursing Home starting in 1969 and later at the Greater Staples Care Center. She retired in the early 1980’s. She was an avid gardener and always had a green thumb for houseplants and flowers. Her other hobbies were reading and genealogy. She enjoyed time with her family and the blessing of grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved living the country life. In 2007, she moved to assisted living in Staples and Motley, MN and later to Fair Oaks Nursing Home in Wadena, MN until the time of her death. She is a member of Swan Valley Lutheran Church of Leader, MN. A son, Darrel, survives Esther and four grandchildren, James (Janice) Johnson of St. Michael, MN, Paul Johnson of Wyoming, MN, Michelle (Ron) Klose of Bismarck, ND and Julene (Shaun) Glinz of Jamestown, ND. In addition, 7 great grandchildren, Logan and Brady Johnson, Ellison and Michael Klose, Kyler, Conner and Anish Glinz. Her sister, Vera Westra of rural Verndale, MN, plus many nieces and nephews. Her husband, Elmer Johnson and daughter-in-law, Geri Johnson, parents, George and Stella (Porter) Collison, brothers, Elmer, Cecil, Orville, Harold, George Collison and two sisters, Lela Johnson and Margaret Gelvin preceded her in death.

Esther Johnson

April 10, 1915 - October 30, 2009