JOHNSON, LOUISE M. - Minnehaha County, South Dakota | LOUISE M. JOHNSON - South Dakota Gravestone Photos

Louise M. JOHNSON

Saint Michaels - Sioux Falls Cemetery
Minnehaha County,
South Dakota

Sec 12- Columbariu #2


Louise M. Johnson
September 2, 1946 - December 14, 2022

Louise M. Johnson, 76, died Wednesday, December 14, 2022 in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at St. Therese Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. Family present visitation begins at 5:30 PM on Monday, December 19th at the funeral home followed by a Liturgical Wake Service at 7:00 PM. Fr. Kevin O’Dell will be the presider.

Becoming Louise: Her Final Chapter

Born September 2, 1946, Louise (Mutsch) Johnson grew up like most of her rural Midwestern cohorts. Her parents, Dorothea and Ralph, were hard-working farmers in Faulk County. Louise came from strong German heritage and attended a one-room country school with older brother Dennis before transitioning to high school in Faulkton, South Dakota.

She believed in smiling until she meant it, living her deep faith by example, and reapplying lipstick often.

On December 14, 2022, Louise passed away as a resident in the memory care neighborhood of Touchmark at All Saints in the company of her beloved husband, Craig.

Visitation will be at the George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls on Monday, December 19 from 5:30-7 with the Liturgical Wake Service at 7 pm under the direction of Fr. Kevin O’Dell. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 20 at the St. Therese Catholic Church in Sioux Falls.

Alzheimer’s did many things to Louise, but her heart never forgot the joy of music, the love for her family, or the power of faith.

Simple days of Louise’s youth were filled with long bike rides, playing with a favorite little set of dishes, and dreaming of all the fun things she wished to buy while perusing her grandma’s catalogs. Even long South Dakota winters held fun memories for Louise as she fondly recalled playing in the snow until snowball fights broke out.

Louise gave higher education a try before realizing more school wasn’t for her. She married and had two daughters, Stephanie and Cami. Though her marriage wasn’t meant to last, the family she created with her girls was one to stand the test of time.

Louise and her girls moved to Sioux Falls in the late 1970s. With the same strength and resourcefulness she’d been raised, the single mother found a job (often two), a house, and moved forward. During this time, Louise transformed herself from clerical staff to business owner. She joined Home Interiors with hopes of earning some extra income. Then, she realized her eye for design and talent for listening. Her flexible second job eventually grew to a rewarding career.
Stephanie and Cami recall a mother who sacrificed and worked hard yet never overlooked the specialness of a family meal, freshly baked treats, or sharing with others.

To say life was easy or simple is to ignore the reality of being a single, working woman with two teenage daughters in a large and growing city. Yet, to dwell on the difficulty of it all, is to overlook Louise’s determination to choose happy no matter the situation.

Marrying Craig Johnson on September 27, 1986 was one of Louise’s greatest joys. “I like to think I’ll never forget meeting Craig,” she once told the couple’s niece. As evidenced by the kiss she puckered up to receive prior to her passing, Craig remained her constant.

Each grandchild has memories uniquely theirs while sharing a host of favorite times with Grandma J like baking pies, gardening, enjoying treats at B&G Milky Way, and dining at their favorite Chinese restaurant.

Louise retired from her work at Josephine’s, a floral gift shop, in 2013 and increased her time spent volunteering at St. Therese, Children’s Home Society, and a community mentoring program for elementary children. Louise’s calm, but firm, nature made her a favorite volunteer. Her favorite self-care activities included exercise and Bible study.

When Craig joined her in retirement on July 1, 2015, the active couple looked forward to their golden years of traveling, vacationing, and spending time with loved ones. They spent their first four years retired traveling.

Gabe, the couple’s beagle/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, joined their family in 2015 also. He remained one of Louise’s great joys.

Louise often told people to “Smile until you mean it”, which is a phrase she abided by through thick and thin, including breast cancer and Alzheimer’s diagnoses.

Those left to smile while they cry include: husband Craig of Sioux Falls; daughters Stephanie (Bob) Lindberg and Cami (Sam) Drahn; grandchildren Nathan, Morgan, Carli, Lily, and Maggie; brother Dennis (Linda) Mutsch; mother-in-law Darlene Johnson; sisters-in-law Brenda (Neil) Duxbury, Kim (Jim) Petik, and Janet Johnson; cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends including Rose Steffen and Judi Heiman both of Sioux Falls.

Preceding Louise in death were her parents, grandparents, father-in-law Wallace Johnson, and brother-in-law Neal Johnson.

Though Louise’s story has ended, it was her hope that others could find some sort of inspiration in her journey. In her own words, “I didn’t stop being Louise when Alzheimer’s came around. The people who stayed in my life helped me more than I will ever be able to tell them. I hope other people get to experience that same kind of love and support.”

To that end, memorials may be directed to St. Therese Catholic Church or the Sioux Falls Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Contributed on 9/22/23 by 9katz
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Additional JOHNSON Surnames in SAINT MICHAELS - SIOUX FALLS Cemetery

Additional JOHNSON Surnames in MINNEHAHA County

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Submitted: 9/22/23 • Approved: 9/25/23 • Last Updated: 9/28/23 • R275514-G275514-S3

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