Muriel Johnson, 99

Muriel Johnson, of Hallock, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024, at Kittson Memorial Nursing Home.

Muriel Elaine Johnson was born on July 7, 1924, in Kennedy, Minnesota to Allan and Hilda (Lundberg) Swanson. She graduated from Kennedy High School in 1941. Muriel attended teacher’s college in Warren, Minnesota and then taught school for six years; three years in rural Lancaster and three years in Humboldt. While teaching in Humboldt, she met Gordon Johnson, and they were soon married at Jupiter Covenant Church in rural Kennedy on June 26, 1948. They moved to a farm near Hallock, where Gordon was a farmer with his brother, Stanley.

While living on the farm, two sons were born, Keith in 1952, and Scott in 1960. Muriel was a very active member at Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for decades and was the first president of the Lutheran Church Women. She was also the co-founder of the Pioneer Girls Club, a Christian girls’ organization, together with Pastor Erland Carlson. With her good friends, Virigina Sundberg and Bernie Reinhold, she started a women’s Bible study group that continues to meet today. Muriel participated in the group for over 60 years, up until she moved to the Kittson County Nursing Home in November 2023. She was an avid reader and later she listened to audio books.

Muriel and Gordon liked to travel, and they first wintered in South Florida and later in southern California, near their son Scott, who lives in San Diego. Following Gordon’s unexpected death on September 25, 1991, Muriel continued to travel, visiting her sons regularly, Keith in North Carolina and Scott in California. Because of declining eyesight, Muriel moved to Rivers Edge Assisted Living in July 2021 and later to the Kittson Memorial Nursing Home. She died peacefully on Monday afternoon, May 20, 2024, in her room at the nursing home.

Muriel is survived by two sons, Keith (and wife Lori) and Scott; four grandsons, Ramon (and husband Steven, Pennsylvania), Kaj (and wife Elizabeth, Connecticut), Tyler (California), and Kyle (and wife Dani, California); one great-granddaughter, Mila; one sister, Linda Tangquist (and husband Dwight, Thief River Falls); and sister-in-law, Florence Swanson (Kennedy).

She was preceded in death her parents, husband Gordon, brother Hilding Swanson, and son, Paul Kevin.

Burial was conducted on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Greenwood Cemetery in Hallock. A memorial service to celebrate Muriel’s life will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Hallock, one day prior to what would have been Muriel’s 100th birthday. Austin Funeral Home is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church or the Hallock Public Library.

Austin Funeral Chapel