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Submitted: 12/2/23 • Approved: 12/5/23 • Last Updated: 12/8/23 • R275647-G275647-S3
Grave # 120- 19th grave in 3rd Row
Carrie Johnson, Philosopher of County Farm, Passes, But Long Resience Leaves Many Friends
Seeing life for 33 years from the Minnehaha County farm left Mrs. Carrie Johnson, 91 years old came to the end, other aged folk at the farm said today. Carrie, who has become almost a law to herself in her long residence was the senior member of the family by ten years and could tell the life history of many who had completed their span of years on the farm. She died as quietly as she had lived Saturday evening in a local hospital soon after she was taken there, and was buried this afternoon in the county cemetery, after brief services in the Burtch Funeral Home.
Communed With Mother
Carried remember her mother even better than she did some of her contemporaries, and followed her in thought and in deed. “My mother, she never took sugar in her tea, “ she would say, “and I won’t either. It won’t’ do you any good to pass it because I’m following her.”
Her mother liked coffee, Carrie said, so she would come down the dining room and have some with cake in the morning and the afternoon.
Sweeping the porch was Carrie’s form of exercise before she became to crippled with rheumatism. She used a broom every morning for two years, but she finally confined her efforts to cleaning her own room.
Born in Norway she liked to meet people from her own country, and for 15 years at the farm as her great friend an old blind man named Swieborg who lived at the farm for 15 years. The two were seen on the grounds and in the office together, talking to one another of their childhood spent in Norway. Carrie never said anything when her friend died, but those in charge noticed that she talked less.
She had lived on a farm and worked hard, but ill fortune had come in spite of her efforts. When her husband who became almost a myth to her as she grew older died, there was no one to look after the little Norwegian woman who was not strong enough to run a farm by herself. She came bravely to the home, and spent her life trying to make it pleasanter for those older than herself first, gradually becoming the senior advisor as her hears increased.
Distant Relatives
At intervals some distant relatives from another township would come to see her and bring her candy. She enjoyed the sweets, and shared them with her friends, but gave no sign of disappointment when the people stopped coming.
She lived in the same room at the farm during her 33 years of residence and was particular about the way it was kept. When she was carried to an ambulance to be taken to the hospital, Andrew, an inmate who is 78 years of age, helped her in. “She didn’t make any complaint,” he said, “But accepted peacefully what was coming to her just as she had received the other events of her life.”
Carrie evidently thought people cannot be friendless as along as they show themselves friendly, for she carried out this theory all during her life.
“Carrie was a peaceful body to have around,’ and old man at the farm said, “We will miss her, specially at meal time.”
Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States of America) · 24 Jul 1923, Tue · Page 7
died age 91
old age
former residence-county farm
WAS UN-MARKED GR- Orig record Minenehaha County (poor farm)
Now has small HS, Independent order of Odd Fellows Orig 24 Nov 2023
Burial 21 Jul 1923
Contributed on 12/2/23 by 9katz
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Record #: 275647