Marlene Johnson

Marlene Johnson, 80, died peacefully after a long illness on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 in Stillwater, MN.
Marlene Joyce Anderson was born on Sept. 22, 1936 to Minton and Linda Anderson in Chicago, Illinois. She was educated in Chicago Public Schools, and attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
While working at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Illinois, she met Vernon Johnson, and the two were married there on March 14, 1964.
After a job transfer to Johnstown, NY, the couple welcomed Katherine to the family on Aug. 9, 1967. Timothy was born on Dec. 19, 1969. Marlene was active in Christ Lutheran Church in Johnstown.
In 1980 the family moved to Hurst, Texas, where Marlene was again active in her church, St. Andrew's Lutheran. After Vern's retirement, Marlene went to work as the director for NEED, a multi-church food shelter and emergency assistance organization serving the poor.
In 1987, the couple retired to Oregon, living in Coos Bay, Oregon for one year before settling in Philomath, Oregon, where they lived for 22 years and were active in Grace Lutheran Church.
They moved to Boutwells Landing senior living in Stillwater, Minnesota in 2010, where Marlene enjoyed visiting friends, volunteering, and participating in Boutwells activities.
Marlene is survived by husband Vernon; daughter Kathy and Rick Altman of Minneapolis; son Tim and Kathleen Johnson of Yardley, PA; grandchildren Oscar, Paige and Tessa; sister, Arlene Larson of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and brother Del Anderson of Chicago, Illinois.
Marlene was preceded in death by parents, Minton and Linda Anderson, and step-mother, Bernice Anderson.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 20 at Boutwells Landing. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to a charity of your choice that reflects Marlene's joy and love of life.