Violet (Vi) E. Johnson

Violet (Vi) Johnson passed away at age 97 on December 20, 2015 at Prairie Home Hospice House in Marshall, MN, her hometown for more than 70 years. Born in Primghar, IA on March 5, 1918 to Nick and Carrie Groot, she spent her early years in Iowa and Chandler, MN. After high school she attended beauty school in Minneapolis and styled hair in the Slayton and Marshall area for several years. She and Franklin V. Johnson were married in Orange City, IA on December 9, 1937. In their more than 66 years together, Marshall was their home except for their 4 years in Luverne, MN the 1950s. They had two children, Dean and Dee Anne, and welcomed Frank’s nephew Donald Moe into their home during his high school years. Over the years, Vi was an active member of First Lutheran Church, the VFW, and AFS. She loved bringing family and friends together at her home in Marshall, at Casa de Paz in Mesa, AZ, and at the cabin at Lake Ottertail. She enjoyed golf, bowling, and bridge, and especially loved dancing with the 25 Dance Club. She was an accomplished seamstress, and enjoyed designing and remodeling homes. She is survived by her children Dean (Toni) of Brentwood , CA, and Dee Johnson of Bayfield, WI, grandchildren Michael (Marisa) and Katherine, sisters June Beal of Renton, WA and Carolyn Spencer (Jim) of Rosemead, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin, her parents, sister Gretta Short, brother Buddy, and nephew Mark Spencer.