Doris Johnson

Doris E. Johnson, age 94, of Litchfield and formerly of Willmar, died Thursday afternoon, October 1, at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Pastor James Panning officiating. Interment will be in the Lake Ripley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, October 5, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Litchfield and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com

Doris Albertha Esther Johnson was born in Cosmos, Minnesota, on December 22, 1920, the second child and only daughter of Carl G. and Martha C. (Heller) Johnson. An older brother, Luverne, born in 1919, passed away as an infant, and her younger brother, Dorin, was born in 1927. Doris and her family lived and farmed in the Cosmos area where she and her brother attended country school. The family moved to other farms in Meeker County, and finally to Litchfield where Doris worked as a grocery store cashier.

Doris married Andrew Woodrow Johnson on January 12, 1943, while Andrew was home on leave from the United States Army. They often told the story of their wedding day, recounting the fact that the outdoor temperature was twenty-one degrees below zero. Doris continued working as a cashier while Andrew served his country fighting abroad in World War II. Andrew eventually returned home from the war wounded and suffering from malaria.

Andrew and Doris bought a small house in Litchfield where they lived with their first child, Susan, until they bought and moved to an eighty acre farm in Greenleaf Township. Their second child, Dennis, and third child, Marcia, were born after moving to the farm. After a few years, they were able to purchase an adjoining eighty acres, making their farm a quarter section. Doris and Andrew worked side by side on the farm while raising their family. In addition, Doris was known for her gardening and flower growing skills, as well as being a wonderful cook and baker. She enjoyed collecting and trying new recipes.

In 1982, Andrew and Doris sold their building site on the farm but retained the cropland. They moved to a home in the College View subdivision in Willmar, Minnesota, where they spent their years of retirement. Doris continued growing flowers and gardening while she and Andrew enjoyed a new hobby, bird watching. Doris now had more time to grow her baking and cooking skills. While living in Willmar, Doris and Andrew watched their family grow with the births of their grandchildren. They enjoyed caring for them. Family gatherings on holidays and other occasions were special times for Doris and Andrew.

Andrew and Doris shared sixty-five years of marriage before Andrew passed away on June 30, 2008. Doris was able to live alone and care for herself in her own home until March of 2012, when she entered nursing home care in Willmar. In July of 2013, she entered the nursing care of Ecumen of Litchfield.

In addition to her beloved husband, Andrew, Doris was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, and all of her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law with the exception of her sister-in-law, Hazel Wittenberg, who survives. Doris is also survived by her children, Susan (and Byron) Manthey, Dennis (and Lisa Phillips Johnson) Johnson and Marcia Holguin, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Faith in Jesus was important to both Doris and Andrew who set wonderful examples for their family and friends with their regular church attendance and participation in church related activities. Doris was baptized as an infant in January of 1921 at First Lutheran Church near Cosmos and confirmed in her faith in April of 1935 at Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos. Doris and Andrew were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Litchfield, during their years on the farm, and at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Willmar during their retirement. Doris's life reflected her confirmation memory verse from Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

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