Ardella Anne Johnson, 62, Magnolia, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne.
Services were Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Revs. Dell Sanderson and Maurice Hagen officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.
Ardella Popken was born to Harold H. and Lillian K. (Beckman) Popken on Jan. 16, 1940, in Fulda. She graduated from Fulda High School in 1958. She graduated from Mankato State University in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree with a double major in home economics and library science.
She married John H. Johnson on June 21, 1963, at Immanuel American Lutheran Church in Fulda. After their marriage, they moved to Magnolia where she was a teacher and librarian at Magnolia High School from 1963 to 1975. She had the same position at Hills-Beaver Creek High School from 1979 to 1994. In 1996, she worked in the Omaha, Neb., school district as a special education teacher for two years. She worked at New County School in Henderson from 1998 to 2000 as a special education teacher and was also the director of the program. She moved to Tuff Memorial Home in May 2002.
Mrs. Johnson was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne, a member of GLCW and Chancel Choir. She served on the Magnolia City Council for many years. She was also involved with Green Earth Players and was a 4-H club leader. She enjoyed quilting, tending to her flower garden, and collecting teddy bears and antiques for her home. She also enjoyed singing and performed at weddings and charity events.
Survivors include her son, James H. (Stacey) Johnson, Menifee, Calif.; one daughter, Jada A. Johnson, Eagan; one granddaughter, Samantha L. Johnson, Menifee; and two sisters, Twyla (Raymond) Goedtke, Fulda, and Wynn (Rick) Sohler, Prior Lake.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, John, on Dec. 9, 1971.
A tree will be planted in memory of Ardella Johnson by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.