Elna Frances Johnson
July 31, 1922 - April 9, 2020
Due to the pandemic, a private service for Elna Frances Johnson, 97, of Chamberlain, SD, will be conducted at a later date, with interment beside her husband at Riverview Cemetery of Chamberlain, SD.
Elna Frances Johnson died peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2020, at Sanford Chamberlain Care Center of Chamberlain, SD.
Elna Frances Johnson was born July 31, 1922, at Elko, MN, to Elmer and Florence (Larson) Thompson.
As a young child, she enjoyed dancing (especially the Charleston). She picked strawberries during her high school years for 75 cents for every six quarts she picked, ironed shirts, cooked, cleaned and milked cows for $3 a week and caught gophers for 25 to 50 cents a piece. She graduated from Lakeville High School of Lakeville, MN, in 1941 and married Harold Johnson on July 19, 1941.
Elna worked as a dental assistant for a number of years, studied to become a stenographer and worked for the Game and Fish, as well as the social welfare office in Woonsocket, SD.
After moving to Chamberlain, SD, in 1962, she worked for an insurance company and then for social services until her retirement in 1990.
Elna lived at her home until 2013, when she moved to Regency Retirement Living in Chamberlain, SD. Elna loved her friends at Regency and will be remembered for her quick wit, kindness and love for her family.
During the last seven weeks of her life, Elna was cared for by the Sanford Care Center, where she received care, love and support from nurses, staff and physicians.
Grateful for having shared her life are her sons, Bruce Johnson of Fargo, ND, Gary Johnson and wife, Vickie of Omaha, NE, and Dari Johnson and wife, Mary of Chamberlain, SD; daughters, Pat Feller and husband, Ted of Sioux Falls, SD, and Jean Shrake of Chamberlain, SD; a daughter-in-law, Linda Johnson; grandchildren, Emily, Jason, Trent, Sean, Christine, Gary, Catherine, Chancey, Cody, Kari, Joel, Andrea, Josiah, Faith and Jon; great grandchildren, Ella, Blaine, Kayden, Kale, Andrew, Aiden, Anthony, Alex, Genevieve, George, Clementine, Mary Ellen, Daulton, Savannah, Rylan, Cale, Sydney, Shelby, Trinity, Corbin, Curin, Conley, Roran Jack, Chloe, Michael and Allison and a great great grandchild, Edith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Johnson; her parents, Elmer and Florence Thompson; a son, Wayne Johnson; a daughter-in-law, Barb Greenwood and grandsons, Clinton Shrake and Gregory Feller.
Hickey Funeral Chapel of Chamberlain, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
The obituary may be seen at www.hickeyfuneralchapel.com.