Dorothy M Johnson

Funeral Services for Dorothy M. Johnson will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jan Gluth King officiating. Interment will be held at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.
Dorothy Mae Johnson, 91 years of age, of Kearney, Nebraska, (formerly of Holdrege), passed away on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village in Kearney. She was born on June 11, 1927, in rural Smithfield, Nebraska, the fifth of six children born to Louie and Elsie (Schmidt) Renken. She graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1945. Following her graduation, she worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Harry Hathaway in Holdrege.
On February 9, 1947, Dorothy was united in marriage to E. Wayne Johnson in Holdrege. They lived on a farm northwest of Holdrege, until February of 1957, when they moved to their new home in town. Dorothy and Wayne adopted two children: James Wayne in 1951, and Brenda Jayne in 1960.
Dorothy moved to Northridge Assisted Living in Kearney in 2001, and later moving to St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village, where she dearly loved the staff who cared for her in her final years.
She was a busy farm wife in her early years, gardening, canning, and also raising their own milk, eggs and meat. In the 1950's, she received the honor of Outstanding Rural Homemaker. She was a skilled seamstress and active in the community. She taught Sunday School at Bethel Lutheran Church for over 20 years. She was active in local election boards, extension council, neighborhood clubs, camera club and assisted with civil defense surveys. She was also a Cub Scout and Blue Bird leader.
After moving off the farm, Dorothy returned to work in 1967, working at JM McDonald's Department store, JC Penney in the sewing department, and worked at Becton-Dickinson until her retirement in 1976.
Dorothy loved to camp in the early years with her family, and later in life, loved to travel.  She took several road trips with her daughter to Florida, Colorado, and Vancouver/Victoria British Columbia. Her most memorable trip was to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City with five grandkids in 1983.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, E. Wayne Johnson in 1977; three brothers: Wilmer Renken, Walter Renken, and Hilbert Renken; and two sisters: Leona Pearson and Eleanor Skiles.
Dorothy is survived by: a son, James Johnson and wife, Janet (Melroy) of Bemidji, Minnesota; a daughter, Brenda Bender and husband, Clinton of Kenesaw, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Matthew Johnson, Joshua Johnson, Kerry (Melroy) Case, Traci (Melroy) Thomas, Evan Bender, and Dalton Bender; 18 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Visitation will be held prior to the services on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege.
A memorial has been established in Dorothy's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.