Mary B Johnson

Funeral Services for Mary B. Johnson will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Dale Lambert and Pastor Bonnie Brock, officiating. Interment will be held in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Mary Beatrice Johnson, 93 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Mary was born May 27, 1917 on a farm near Loomis in Phelps County, Nebraska, the youngest of three children born to John Wesley and Minnie Louise (Payne) Backencamp. Mary received her education from Loomis, graduating from Loomis High School with the class of 1936. During this time, she assisted her family on the farm. Following her education, Mary was employed as a Sales Clerk for Brown McDonalds and J.C. Penney department stores in Holdrege.

On October 3, 1942 she was united in marriage to Vernon LeRoy Johnson at Medford, Oregon. The couple made their home Oregon, where Mary was employed by Sears. They then relocated to Mississippi during the time Vernon served in the military. Following Vernon's honorable discharge, they returned to Phelps County and made their home on a farm southwest of Holdrege. Mary and Vernon were blessed with two sons: Eldon Lee and Jerry Paul. Mary enjoyed the years on the farm, assisting Vernon and focused on raising their sons. After the boys were in college, Mary was employed by Artistic Woven Labels for ten years. Mary and Vernon moved into Holdrege in 1981. In 2006, she was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon. In 2007, Mary began to make her home at the Christian Homes Care Community.

Mary was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was active with the Sarah Circle. She was a 4-H leader in her younger years and loved to play cards, especially pitch and bridge and enjoyed traveling with Vernon. Mary loved to paint china as a hobby and she will also be remembered by many for her artistic ability of design, painting, and decorating of the elegant eggs, which she gave to many family, friends and staff at Christian Homes. She formed the Holdrege Tri-County Porcelain Artists Club, and Mary enjoyed having many guest Painters from all over the world in her home. Mary also enjoyed volunteering her time as a greeter to make people feel welcome at the Nebraska Prairie Museum and the Christian Homes. She was a very giving and loving lady who enjoyed entertaining family and friends.

Besides her husband, Mary was preceded in death by her son, Jerry; and two sisters: Beulah Wick and her husband, Clarence and Opal Larson.

She leaves to mourn her passing her son, Eldon Johnson and his wife, Betty of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; daughter-in-law, Beverley Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska; two grandchildren: Celeste Martell and her husband, Rich of Margate, Florida, and Cybill Johnson also of Margate; two step-grandchildren: Sandy Neal of Lincoln, and Tom Kibler of Holdrege; one great-grandson, R.J. Martell; six step great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mary will lie in state at the Christian Homes Care Community Chapel in Holdrege on Monday, March 14, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Mary's memory and kindly suggested to the First United Methodist Church, the Christian Homes Care Community or the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

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.