Dorothy Mae Johnson was born on August 19, 1933 in Albert Lea, MN to Clarence and Nora Benson. When she was 6 months old, the family moved to Froid, MT where spent her growing years. When a teenager, she had rheumatic fever, spending two years in bed rest. Those become a formative part part of her life. After graduating high school from the American School in Chicago (by correspondence), she attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis and later served as a parish worker in McIntosh, MN. Later, after another relapse of illness, she returned to LBI and from there was sent to West Union Lutheran Church in Minnesota to teach Vacation Bible School. It was there she met Don Johnson. Dorothy was employed in the Home Mission Department of the American Lutheran Church Headquarters until they were married April 9, 1960 at the Froid Lutheran Church in Froid, MT.

Don and Dorothy lived near Carver, MN on the family farm. In 1986, they moved to St. Bonifacious, MN and built a home there. In 1994 they moved to Bella Vista, AR. This was the highlight of their retirement years. Due to medical reasons, they moved to St. Croix Falls, WI in 2005 and then Grantsburg, WI in 2014 to be near daughter Kim (husband Joel and family) spending extended good years close to family until her death on October 20, 2022.

Dorothy felt a calling from God to Bible Study Leadership work and devoted her life to it. She led Bible Studies in the MN areas of West Union, Benton County, Carver County, Waconia; Bella Vista, AR and most recently in Grantsburg, WI. While attending Bella Vista Baptist Church, she was co-director of the Lighthouse of Prayer Ministry with Don, served on the committee for the National Day of Prayer in AR, and was a retreat speaker for Women’s Ministries and others.

Dorothy was a lover of, and writer of, poetry which she shared with others as an encouragement. She loved music – both vocal and piano – and was an avid reader. She enjoyed traveling, birds, flowers, and hiking, especially parks in KY. But most of all, she loved her children and grandchildren. Her priority in life was for each of them to know and love Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and share His love with others.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Don, her twin sister Donnabelle, her brother Carroll, and her parents, Clarence and Nora.

She is survived by her loving family, daughter Kim (Joel) Segner, sons Kent (Sherrie) Johnson, Kevin (Mimi) Johnson. Grandchildren: Stephen (Shaina) Segner, Martha (Nathan) Hunt, Bethany (Matt) Zorn, Kathryn Segner, Matthew Johnson, Isak Johnson, Jessi Johnson, Shegitu Johnson, and Ermiyas Johnson and four Great Grandchildren: Lorraine Segner, Ezer Segner, Hannah Hunt, and Eli Hunt, as well as many friends in several states that she loved keeping in touch with by sending cards and making phone calls.

Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home, and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown.

Last Update: Oct 21, 2022 12:45 pm CDT