Maythel Johnson

MAYTHEL C. (MORRISON) JOHNSON
January 7, 1925 – December 1, 2021 (Age 96)

Maythel (“May”) C. Johnson was born January 7, 1925, in South Shore, South Dakota, to Charlie and Violetta Morrison. Following the tragic death of her father in a vehicle accident when she was nine months old, May and her siblings—Dorothy (3) and Donald (2)—were raised by their mom on a farm south of Watertown, along with an aunt, two uncles, and Grandpa Wight. The three Morrison children attended rural schools through the eighth grade and then May worked for her room and board in town so she could attend Watertown High School. After graduating in 1943, May worked at First Citizens National Bank where she advanced rapidly; her last promotion resulted in a position as secretary to the president of the bank.

The Morrison family was active at Gospel Tabernacle where in her early years, May received Jesus as her Savior. This was the beginning of a lifelong, intimate relationship with Jesus Who became her Best Friend through all the joys and challenges of life.

After corresponding over two years with Clinton Johnson while he was stationed in Europe during World War II, he and May were married March 6, 1946, before his second three-year “hitch” in the military. Following moves to Army bases in Virginia and Indiana, they spent a couple of years at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, during which time Jeannie and Judy were born in 1947 and 1948. After Clinton’s second honorable discharge, they relocated in the Twin Cities where Clint pursued pastoral ministry studies at St. Paul Bible Institute while May worked as a bookkeeper in a St. Paul bank.

During a Minnesota pastorate in the late ‘50s, the family grew to six with the birth of Phyllis in 1957 and Terry in 1959. Throughout their pastoral ministries, May’s quiet, gentle spirit encouraged many as she served in various capacities. Her gifts of music (piano and vibraharp), teaching Sunday School/Bible studies, and hospitality were assets in advancing God’s Kingdom.

Following retirement from fulltime ministry in 1987, Clinton and May eventually moved to Lyngblomsten Apartments in St. Paul until Clint’s death in 2015. May’s lifetime passion of reading continued throughout her remaining years. In November 2019, she transitioned to the Lyngblomsten Care Center where she resided for two years until she passed into the presence of Jesus on December 1, 2021. The Johnson children would like to express gratitude to the LCC staff for the compassionate care shown to their mother during her final years of life.

May was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Clinton Johnson; her parents, Charlie and Violetta Morrison; son-in-law, Fred Squires; sister, Dorothy Hay; and brother, Donald Morrison. She will be missed by her children, Jeannie Squires, Judy Heckman, Phyllis (Mark) Helzer, and Terry Johnson; grandchildren, Chad (Lucinda) Squires, Jeremy (Dita) Squires, Kristina (Russell) Brock, Julie (Nathanael) Fawcett, Kelley (John) Savage, Chelsey (Dan) Huber and Megan (Ro) Higgins; 13 great-grandchildren, Cory, Kayla, Caleb, Chloe, Brooklynn, Kaelynn, Kory, Ethan, Micah, Kaden, Noah, Derek, and Hailey (plus one on the way!); sister-in-law, Ellen Morrison; and other friends and extended family.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, December 27, at 1:00 p.m. at Rose Hill Alliance Church, 2105 Roselawn Avenue West, Roseville; doors open at 12:30 p.m. Due to recent changes in church COVID guidelines, masks are encouraged, and no refreshments will be served. (Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery will take place earlier in December.) In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be designated to Rose Hill Alliance Church. The livestream will be available for viewing at www.rosehillcma.org through the church’s YouTube channel, and the service will be made available at www.bradshaw.com at a later date.

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