Agnes Elizabeth Johnson, 89, Elk River, Minn., formerly of Rock Lake, died peacefully on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at the Guardian Angels Care Center, Elk River. Memorial services will be held Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., at United Methodist Church in Rock Lake, with Rev. Rick Craig officiating. Visitation will be Friday, one hour prior to the service, in the church. Music will be from Carolyn Heller, organist. Burial will take place at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rock Lake.
Agnes was born at home to John E. and Margaret (Broten) Lawler on Dec. 21, 1922, at Hansboro, where she was raised. Her mother passed away when she was 11 years old, so her dad raised her and her three brothers. She started first grade at age 5 at Hansboro School and graduated salutatorian from Hansboro High School in 1940. She attended North Dakota Agricultural College for three years and taught in a rural school in Virginia Township.
She married the love of her life, Harold Raymond Johnson, of Bisbee, on June 1, 1944, at Tempe, Ariz. They had met at 4-H camp in Manitoba. Harold passed away Sept. 28, 2002.
During World War II, Agnes worked in an airplane parts factory in Spokane, Wash., and was a forklift operator. When she married Harold, she moved to Mesa, Ariz., and later to Florida, where he was stationed. After the war Agnes and Harold farmed the Johnson family farm until they bought a farm in Lansing Township, northeast of Rock Lake. Agnes moved to Parkview Apartments in Rock Lake in July 2003 and to Elk River in 2005 to be closer to her daughter.
For 18 years Agnes managed the Rock Lake office of the First State Bank of Cando until her retirement in 1984. At that time Harold's health started deteriorating, and Agnes became his caretaker for the next 18 years. She was a school board clerk for several years and was active in the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Stardust Homemakers Club.
Agnes sewed one of the blocks for the North Dakota Centennial quilt. She was a very talented person and enjoyed all crafts and activities, including sewing, knitting, baking, gardening, canning and cooking. She also grew flowers and houseplants and worked crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Best of all was her sense of humor and belly laugh. Most important to her was her religion, family and friends. She always had the coffee on with cookies or bars.
Agnes is survived by: her three children, daughter, Aoulene (Bruce) Hauschulz, of Elk River, Minn.; son, Harley (Martha) Johnson, of New Town, and son, Daniel (Diane) Johnson, of Pembina; eight grandchildren, Kris (Tony) Jackson, Robin (Bob) Eastman, Michele (Kevin) McCormick, Eric (Kristi) Johnson, Cindy Johnson, Cassie (Jason) Murphy, Rebecca Schuster and Charlena Vinglass. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Whitney Jackson, Ali and Calan Eastman; Alayna, Mylie and Keagan McCormick; Benjamin, Christian, Julia, Ava and Luke Schuster. Two brothers survive Agnes, Kenneth "Mike" (Jeanice) Lawler, and Russ (Mary) Lawler; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents and one brother, Ray Lawler.
An online guestbook is available at (www.dunnigandix.com).
Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home, Cando, is in charge of arrangements.