Carol Lou Johnson

*** The celebration of life will be live-streamed via YouTube - Willmar Church of the Nazarene***

Carol Lou Johnson, age 87, of Willmar, passed away Monday morning, February 17, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

 Carol's celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, at the Church of the Nazarene in Willmar. Interment will be at the Mannanah Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are strongly encouraged to the Willmar Church of the Nazarene to honor Carol.  Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

 Carol was born on February 15, 1938, beside the old pot belly stove at the home of her maternal grandparents, Ida and Alfred Hagelbeck near Manannah, Minnesota. Her parents were Carl and Virginia (Lipsit) Rostberg. She spent most of her first six years of life in Manannah, the place where her heart has always remained. She also lived in Litchfield, Minneapolis, Kerkhoven, St. James, Lester and Doon, Iowa, Pipestone, Anchorage, Alaska, Harris, Minnesota and finally Willmar. She graduated from Pipestone High School and attended classes at Willmar Community College and St. Paul Technical Institute. Carol had many jobs in this area but her most favorite was working at KWLM Radio Station and Bethesda Nursing Homes. She was also engaged in assisting her husband with his auctions and antique shops.

 Aside from being an avid Minnesota Twins fan, Carol enjoyed all types of woodworking, carpentry and remodeling old houses, quilting and writing. She has written two books for her grandchildren and has articles published in various magazines. Carol so enjoyed keeping in contact with people she had met through her lifetime and always enjoyed making new friends and acquaintances. One of her greater joys was her involvement and service during her years as a Salvation Army Soldier here in Willmar.

 She is survived by her wonderful husband, Col. Tim Johnson of Willmar; three very precious sons, Jeffrey (and Cheryl) Hobson of Crown Point, IN., Dr. Kim (and Buelah) Hobson of Garland, TX., and Chris (and Charlotte) Johnson of Minneapolis; three wonderful grandchildren, Hannah, Kharli and Dartagnan; and one great foster grandson, Cameron (and Tasha) Sanderson of Clontarf. Also surviving is one brother, Terry Lipsit of Willmar; four sisters, Becky Moyer (and Jim Beverson) of Hutchinson, Jennnifer Werkman of Willmar, Madrene (and Scott) Grund of Hatton, ND., and Hope Rostberg of Minneapolis; and one sister-in-law, Diane Rostberg of Henderson, besides many other relatives and friends.

 She was preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Lipsit; father, Carl Rostberg; maternal grandmother, Ruby Danley; adoptive maternal grandparents, Alfred and Ida Hagelbeck; paternal grandparents, Helmer and Alma Rostberg; foster parents, Dr. Wayne and Mary Jane Brownell; foster daughter, Kim Marie Thayer Sanderson; and brother, Alvin Rostberg.