Millie Johnson

Life History for Millie Johnson
Millie Johnson, age 86 of Glenwood, entered into the peace of Heaven on Tuesday evening, August 21, 2012 from the Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, MN.
Millie Marie Fennell was born on March 2, 1926 in Clontarf, MN to Veila 'Joe' and Opheila "Phyllis' (Weber) Fennell. She moved with her family to the Sauk Centre area and graduated from high school there. She helped her country during WWII by moving to California help assemble the air coolers on B-52 Bombers. On June 13, 1944 Millie was united in marriage to Joyce 'Bud' Johnson in West Union, MN. They farmed near Osakis and in 1966 they purchased Joe's Supper Club from Millie's parents and renamed it Bud's Supper Club. Millie moved to the Glenwood area and began cooking for Peter's Resort on Lake Minnewaska. She also worked as a Nurse's Aide at the Lakeview Care Center in Glenwood. Millie helped operate a chuck wagon food stand with her daughter, Diane, for over eighteen years. She retired in 2008.
Millie was a member of the Sauk Valley Lutheran Church in rural Osakis and helped teach Sunday School, sang in the church choir and also belonged to the Ladies Aide, serving as past president.
She loved horses and not only rode them but also trained them for others after completing a course in horsemanship. She was also an excellent seamstress who was able to sew many types of outfits for her daughters over the years. Western and Indian history was another interest of Millie's and she liked to read and share stories about what she learned. Playing bingo and eating chocolate kisses were also things that made her smile. She was a considerate, kind and caring mother, grandma and sister who will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Millie is survived by her daughters, Diane (Larry) Johnson of Glenwood, Cheryl (Gerry) Thornbloom of Sauk Centre, Donna (Bill) Frank of Palm Beach, FL, Debra Johnson of Austin, TX and Roxann (Kevin Mitton)Johnson of Boise, ID; 5 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and 1 great, great granddaughter; a brother, Donald (Dorothy) Fennell of Park Rapids and a sister, Dorothy (Norman) Winter of Medora, ND; many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death are her parents, two husbands, Bud Johnson and James Otto.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Sauk Valley Lutheran Church in Osakis with Rev. Steve Hilde officiating. Musicians were organist, Ione Johnson and soloist, Dana Hetland. Interment was at the church cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren, Denise Klimek, Laurie Gonnerman, Brenda Moritz, Jodi Schmitt and Jake Frank. Active casketbearers were her great grandchildren, Jason, Ryan & Jonathan Klimek, Tyler Thornbloom, Brandon Moritz, Joseph, Morgan, Kendall & Bobbi Jo Schmitt, Britney & Raelyn Gonnerman and great great granddaughter, Carly Klimek.