Helen M. Johnson, 90

Published 9:49 am Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Helen M. Johnson, 90, of Austin died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, at the Sacred Heart Care Center.

Johnson

Helen Margaret Hormel was born July 27, 1924, at Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Donald and Olive (Blondell) Hormel. She attended Austin Public Schools and graduated from St. Mary’s Hall in Faribault, Minnesota, and attended Carlton College at Northfield, Minnesota. Helen was married to Gregg W. (Bud) Johnson on Aug. 28, 1948, at Christ Episcopal Church in Austin.

Helen worked in the lab at the Mayo Clinic for several years and also did bookkeeping for the family business, the A&W Root Beer Stands in Austin. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who loved spending time with her family and introducing the family to cribbage and card games. Helen traveled to many antique car rallies with her husband Bud as well to many A&W conventions over multiple decades. She enjoyed spending time at the family cabin at Lake Pepin, where she enjoyed fishing and bird watching. Helen was an avid reader along with knitting and pottery-making.

Helen was a life-long active member of Christ Episcopal Church where she sang in the choir, was a member of the Daughters of the King and diligently volunteered and assisted with preparing the annual Sauerkraut Supper. She was an active and involved member of the Austin Collectors Club.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband Gregg W. (Bud) Johnson; and a sister Mary Moss.

Helen is survived by her son, Gregg H. Johnson, Austin, Minnesota; daughters and sons-in-law: Mary and Mike Nelson, Austin, Minnesota, Emily and Jim Reitter, Frontenac, Minnesota; grandchildren: Scott Nelson, Austin, Minnesota, Anna Johnson, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Elyse Reitter (Doug Thompson), Portland, Oregon; Kari Johnson, Dubuque, Iowa; Erik Reitter, Lakeville, Minnesota, and Braeden Johnson, Austin, Minnesota; brother and sister-in-law, Herman and Kristen Hormel, Rochester, Minnesota; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at the Austin Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. Catherine C. L. Lemons officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to Christ Episcopal Church, Austin, Minnesota.