Eva Johnson

Eva J. Johnson of Aurora, Colorado, formerly of Lake Lillian and Svea, Minnesota, died Sunday, February 17, at St. Andrews Village in Aurora. A private burial will be at Svea Lutheran Cemetery with a public memorial service following at the church at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 23. There will be no viewing.

Eva Johanna Nelson was born December 6, 1916, to J. (John) Albert and Johanna (Bengtson) Nelson at home on the family farm in Lake Lillian Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. She was baptized on July 15, 1917, by Reverend John B. Sorenson at Svea Lutheran Church in Svea and confirmed on June 22, 1930, by Reverend J. I. Bergstrand at First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian.

On May 23, 1941, she married Alston P. Johnson (of the Svea area) at the First Lutheran Church parsonage in Lake Lillian; Reverend J. I. Bergstrand officiated. They farmed south of Willmar for 12 years before moving in November 1952 to Tucson, Arizona, and then to Aurora, Colorado, in August 1953.

She attended District 105 School. She graduated with honors from Willmar High School, Willmar, Minnesota, on July 1, 1933; graduated from Renville Teachers Training in Renville, Minnesota, on June 1, 1934; completed the Secretarial and High Accounting programs at Parks School of Business in Denver, Colorado, in 1959; earned her CPS (Certified Professional Secretary) international rating in 1973; received her Associate of Applied Science degree in Office Administration from Community College of Denver--Red Rocks Campus, Lakewood, Colorado, on June 7, 1977.

She taught grades 1-8 for six years in Minnesota Public Schools: two years in District 12 Kandiyohi County (1935 to 1937); one year in District 110 Renville County (1937 to 1938); two years in District 81 North Kandiyohi County (1938 to 1940); one year in District 81 Kandiyohi County (1940 to 1941).

She was the secretary at Hope Lutheran Church in Aurora (1959-1964); secretary at Franklin Laboratories--Division of American Home Products in Denver (1964 to 1980); secretary at Mountain Plains Congress of Senior Organizations in Denver (July to November 1980); and secretary at AORN (Association of Operating Room Nurses) in Denver (1980 until her retirement in 1992).

She served as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the St. Mary's Glacier Water and Sanitation District, Idaho Springs, Colorado (1978 to 1989) then resigned and became the recording secretary for the Board of Directors until she resigned in 1990.

She enjoyed her many gardens around her home in Aurora and the plant sales that she and her long-time friend and neighbor Betty Bramlett held during spring for several years. For about ten years (1994-2004) she enjoyed spending winters in Willmar and being able to visit relatives and friends. Much enjoyment was received from writing letters to relatives and friends in Minnesota and writing articles for the Prime Time (West Central Tribune).

She is survived by four sons and a daughter all of Colorado--Michael of Parker, Mark (Betty Wilson) of Durango, Bradley of Fort Collins, Cheryl of Parker, Brent (Denise) of Littleton; two grandsons and a granddaughter--Tavis (Amanda) Johansson of Portland, Oregon, Gunnar and Zoe Johnson of Denver; two sisters--Edith Johnson Larson of Willmar, Novia Coil of Lake Lillian; one sister-in-law Doris Johnson of Willmar; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by an infant sister (1913), infant son (1942), husband (1991), brothers Wallace (1992) and Rudolph Nelson (1999).