Carol J. Johnson

Carol Jean (Sorensen) Johnson was born March 7, 1923, at home in Greenvale Township, Dakota County, Minnesota, to Roscoe and Amie (Petersen) Sorensen. She was baptized and confirmed at East Christiania Lutheran Church and attended several area country schools. After her education she worked as a nanny for 3 families in the area. She married Floyd E. Johnson on September 2, 1941, at East Christiania Lutheran Church. After marriage they farmed with Floyd’s family in the Little Chicago area. In the late 1940's they moved to their longtime home in Little Chicago. Carol and Floyd were foster parents to several children. Carol worked as a nursing assistant at the Northfield Care Center for over 20 years, retiring in 1990. Floyd passed away on May 21, 1997, and Carol remained at home until recently moving to the Northfield Manor.

Since 1941, Carol has been an active member of Trondhjem Lutheran Church in Lonsdale. At Trondhjem she was involved in WELCA, Bible study, as a card sender for the Good Cheer Committee, and she was known and loved for her hospitality and generousity. She was also a committee member of the Trondhjem Community Preservation Society. She enjoyed birds, flowers, music, knitting, crocheting and baking. She was kind, gentle, caring, modest, and a woman of faith who lived it. She loved her family dearly, and she taught them much about how to live life.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Harlan & Sherrie of Lilydale; seven daughters and their husbands: Bev & Richard Hussey of Northfield, Sandy Valek of Northfield, Barb & Al Lentsch of Lilydale, Bonnie & Don Pavek of Northfield, Roxanne and Dick Simon of Northfield, Deb & Dale Simon of Veseli, Kim and Rod Smisek of Lonsdale; 23 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Myrtle Hagen of Portland, Oregon; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her grandsons, Tyrone Johnson and Scott Valek; her brothers, Harlan and Howard Sorensen; and her sisters, Dorothy Hall, Reta Miller and Jenny Skalsky.

Carol passed away with her children and family by her side, on Saturday morning, September 6, 2008, at the Northfield Manor, at the age of 85.

Visitation will be 4-8 P.M. Friday, September 12, 2008, at Trondhjem Lutheran Church in Lonsdale. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 13, 2008, at Trondhjem Lutheran Church with Revs. Howard and Janet White officiating. Music will be provided by Mark Dietsche and Hannah Braasch. Interment will be in Trondhjem Lutheran Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Adam Closmore, Isaiah Duncan, Derek Valek, Brandon Canedy, Logan Canedy, Carson Canedy, Jordan Canedy and Parker Pavek. Honorary casket bearers will be Raymond Valek, Thatcher Pavek, Matthew Pavek, Ryan Pavek, Kyle Malecha, Jacob Malecha, Trevor Malecha, Blake Simon and Carter Simon. Visitation will continue on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the funeral.

At Carol’s request, "Please honor the dead to help the living." In lieu of flowers, "Please give donations for a bell tower at Trondhjem Lutheran Church or to Trondhjem Cemetery."

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.