Berneta Mae Johnson (Bea) and her twin sister, Betty Jane were born in De Smet, South Dakota (The Little Town on The Prairie) Jan. 19, 1929 to Herman and Martha Block. They were the youngest of four other siblings. Berneta often said she’d had a charmed childhood living on farms in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. Her dad took a job in town and they moved to (the big house) next to the school in Hills, Minnesota. Berneta Mae graduated from Hills High School. Berneta Mae went on to Mankato State Teachers College and taught school for a time before she married Rodney Johnson June 12, 1949 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, their four children were also baptized there.
Rod and Berneta were the third generation to farm the family farm near Hills until the family moved to Tracy, Minnesota in 1960 then to Russell, Minnesota in 1963. Rodney had an insurance agency in Russell. A close friend had a hard time pronouncing Berneta Mae so she became "Bea" and later “Granny” to her grandchildren and their friends.
Bea stayed home with her children until they were in school, then worked in several clerical positions and for a time, along with Rod and their son Rick, owned Russell Hardware and Plumbing. Bea retired from the Lyon County Registrars Office.
Rodney, Bea’s best friend and soul mate passed away in 1998.
Bea loved and was active in her church in Russell, Grace Lutheran, serving on the council and teaching Sunday School. Her children were confirmed there.
Bea moved to Ethel, Washington in 2002. She joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winlock, Washington, where she found a new church home and made many new friends.
Bea was always happiest when in service to others, cooking, baking, sewing and quilting. Bea loved playing cards and doing word puzzles. Bea did her crossword puzzles in ink.
Bea passed away in her home in Ethel, Washington, Nov. 8, 2015.
She is survived by one daughter-in-law, Marilyn Johnson Balaton, Minnesota; three of her children, Joel (Sue) Johnson of Ethel, Washington, Peggy (Dennis) Schenck of Prior Lake, Minnesota and Kathy (Daryl) Neels of Russell, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; eight nieces and nephews; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Twila Kirsch; and other family.
Bea was preceded in death by her parents; aunts and uncles; siblings; husband; one son, Rick passed away in 2014; two nieces; and three nephews.
Bea will be buried along side her husband in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Hills, Minnesota. Blessed be her memory.
