Gladys A. Johnson

Gladys A. Johnson, 99, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 3, 2023 at The Cottage.  She was surrounded by family.

Gladys was born on August 5, 1924 in Holmesville Township, MN, a daughter of the late Ole N. and Christina (Momb) Johnson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Egelund Lutheran Church.  Gladys attended school at District #77 and was a 1943 graduate of Detroit Lakes High School.  In those years, she was active in 4-H, choir and the Luther League.  Following her graduation from high school, Gladys worked in the Extension Office and the ACSC office in Detroit Lakes.

Gladys married Richard Johnson on August 19, 1950, and they moved to E. Grand Forks.  She worked as a secretary/bookkeeper at Northern States Power Co; the Grand Forks School System and Swingen Construction Company.

Following Richard’s retirement from Northern States Power in 1984, they moved to Big Elbow Lake.  After Richard’s passing in 1993, Gladys moved to Detroit Lakes.

In earlier years, Gladys enjoyed camping and snowmobiling; bowling, reading and crossword puzzles.  She also really enjoyed their summer time weekends at their place on beautiful Bad Medicine Lake.  She was a longtime volunteer at the Senior Center and also loved visiting family in Florida, Zimmerman and Montana.  Gladys’ wonderful laugh, smile, kind soul and warm heart will be missed forever!

Gladys is survived by her son, David (Carol) Johnson of Zimmerman, MN and her daughter, Karen Savoy of West Palm Beach, FL; her grandchildren: Amanda (Joey) Simonetta, Steven Savoy and Kailey (Paul) Anderson; and her great-grandchildren Amelia June Simonetta and Lyla Brooks Anderson.  Gladys also had many great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard, her grandson, Jared Savoy, her brothers: Jesse and Paul Johnson and her sisters: Olga Wilkie, Ellen Olmstead and Lorna Braget.

The family wishes to thank the staff at The Cottage as well as the nurses and staff of Hospice of the Red River Valley.