Rose Ann Johnson

Rose Ann Johnson, age 86, Browns Valley, MN, passed away Sunday, December 24, 2023, at the Browns Valley Health Center.

Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, January 2, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Browns Valley with Fr. John Paul Knopik officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Inurnment will be in the Summit Cemetery, Morris, MN.  Honorary urn bearers will be Rose Ann's grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Active urn bearer will be Terry Johnson.

Rose Ann Leuthard, daughter of Rudy and Roxie (Loken) Leuthard, was born on December 18, 1937 in Morris, MN. She was baptized in the Catholic faith at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chokio, MN, and attended Chokio Public School, graduating with the class of 1955.

As a freshman in high school, Rose Ann spent several months at the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis, MN, after contracting polio. During this time the love of her life, Roy Johnson, kept her spirits high with letters of love and encouragement. Although she no longer could continue cheerleading, she was active in tumbling and other school activities and also was crowned Stevens County Dairy Princess.

Following her graduation, Rose Ann and Roy were united in marriage on November 26, 1955 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chokio, celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary this past November. They were blessed with three children, Peggy, Rod, and Terry. Much of Rose Ann and Roy's married life was spent living in Chokio where she loved her role as homemaker, and you could find her weekly baked goods of donuts, bismarcks and long johns rising on the heat register.

After the kids became school age, Rose Ann began working closely with Roy as the bookkeeper at the Tri-County Co-op in Chokio. Rose Ann was also later employed with Dustbusters in Morris through the Villa of St. Francis and eventually began her own independent cleaning business.

During their spare time, Roy and Rose Ann worked side-by-side creating wooden crafts which they sold at area craft shows. Rose Ann's other interests included being an avid fisherman who could clean any fish with the best of them. Playing Bridge was a favorite of hers along with her daily five hands of Gin Rummy every morning with Roy.

Rose Ann was called to heaven on December 24, 2023, at the age of 86, while at the Browns Valley Health Care Center in Browns Valley, MN. She celebrated her first heavenly Christmas in the presence of Jesus.

Rose Ann is survived by her husband, Roy of Browns Valley, MN; children, Peggy (Dennis) Marty of Underwood, MN, Rod (Laurie) Johnson of Elbow Lake, MN, and Terry (Karin) Johnson of Morris, MN; grandchildren, Kristina (Rick) Ehnert, Greg (Holly) Johnson, Missy (Josh) Longnecker, Kim (Chad) Leitch, Tyler Johnson, and Kelsey (Matt) Pierson; great-grandchildren, Brayden and Braxton Ehnert, Lydia and Vivian Johnson, Nolan, Josie and Zack Longnecker, Belle and Aubrey Holland, Kinze Johnson, and Brooks, Mason, and Hudson Pierson; sisters, Lois (Donnie) Erickson of Bloomington, MN, and Audrey Tobin of Ortonville, MN; brother-in-law, Gay Johnson of Browns Valley, MN; sisters-in-law, Judy Carlsted of St. Cloud, MN, and Nancy Leuthard of Chokio, MN, and many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, Roy Ahlvin; sister, Mary Kampmeier; brother, David Leuthard; sister-in-law, Phyllis Johnson; brother-in-law John Carlsted; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jim and Audrey Erickson; and grandson, Michael Johnson.