Velva Johanson

Velva "Val" A. Johanson, age 100, of New London, died Sunday evening, November 16, at the Glen Oaks Care Center in New London.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, November 20, at Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer.  Interment will be in the Spicer City Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.  Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer.
Velva was born April 15, 1914, in Parker, South Dakota, the daughter of John and Ella (Miller) Fritz.  She grew up and received her education in Gary, South Dakota.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith.  In 1933, she married Howard Johanson and they made their home in Gary, South Dakota, where Val worked at the South Dakota State School for the Blind.  They then lived in Minneapolis and Chicago before moving to Spicer.  In Spicer, Val worked as a waitress at the café.  She later worked as a cook at New London-Spicer Schools, the Spicer Senior Center,  Camp Sanderson Girl Scout Camp and the Willmar Regional Treatment Center.  She also worked in the deli at Jahnke Foods in Spicer.  Val volunteered for 15 years as a foster grandparent in the New London-Spicer Schools.
Val was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer, where she had served as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher.  She was also a member of the Spicer American Legion Auxiliary.  She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and visiting with friends and family.  She spent several winters in Arizona and was proud that she was able to live independently for so long.
She is survived by a sister, Shirley (and Wayne) Block of Willmar; three grandchildren, Kim Lundberg of Coon Rapids, Dawn (and Brian) Johnson of New London, and Matt (and Mary Lynn) Johanson of New London; six great-grandchildren, Jane Lundberg, Josh Lundberg, Jeremiah Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Cody Johanson, and Chase Johanson; three great-great-grandchildren, Rylee, Josie, and Ryder; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard in 1974; a son, Harry in 2008; three brothers, Orville, William, and Smokey; two sisters, Cleo Thonvold and Ina Gratz; an infant great-grandson; and an infant great-great-grandson.

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