Published: November 09, 2009 10:56 am      

Dorothy Alberta Johnson

June 30, 1921-Nov. 7, 2009

As the sun rose on such a beautiful day that the Lord gave to us, in the quiet of the morning, He peacefully took our mom, grandma, great grandma and dear friend Dorothy, home to heaven to be with Him and with her loved ones this day. Dorothy had been living in Warsaw at Miller’s Merry Manor since July, to be closer to her granddaughter, Jerica, who had been taking care of her during her last few months of failing health.

Dorothy was born in Warren, Minn., to John and Hazel Parvey (both deceased) on June 30, 1921. She was a second generation Finnish-American and was very proud of it. She has two brothers, Einar, Spokane, Wash., and Iver (deceased) and one sister, June Strait, Minetowa, Minn.

On Dec. 27, 1950, she married LeRoy G. Johnson. They lived, farmed and raised their six sons in Geneseo, Ill. In the early 60s they moved to Goshen and continued on with their lives. Dorothy worked as a line cook at Goshen College and cleaned homes for some area families. In 1983 after most of the boys had left home and Roy had retired from the street department, they sold their home, bought a motor home and for several years they traveled all over the country enjoying one of Dorothy’s greatest loves — flea marketing, going to garage sales and buying and selling antiques. They came back to again settle in Goshen in the early 90s. In February 1995, the Lord took her beloved husband of 45 years home and her heart broke, but she rejoiced in the fact that he was in heaven with his Saviour.

A little over a year later, she tragically lost her son, Gary, who was 41 years old, when the Lord took him home in a horrendous accident.

Dorothy started attending Clinton Frame Mennonite Church after Roy passed on and made many endearing friends throughout the years. The dearest of these was Terry Deiner, her preacher and her friend.

Until her illness forced her to move three months ago, Dorothy had lived for the last thirteen years at Greencroft in Goshen and still enjoyed going to garage sales and flea markets. She also enjoyed spending time with the many dear and loving friends she had made and her dear beloved grandchildren.

Last fall, in 2008, the Lord again took one of her sons, the oldest of the boys, Jerry, home to heaven.

Dorothy was “Grandma” to seven children and “Great Grandma” to 10 children and “Great Great Grandma” to three little ones. Many grandchildren live in other parts of the country and were not an everyday part of her life, but she thought of them often.

And now as the beautiful sunset is blazing across the skies and this day is closing, Dorothy is lovingly remembered and cherished by many but especially by her sons, Don in Pennsylvania, John and Jim in Texas and Ken in Michigan City. Memories of “Mom” are now replacing the visits and the phone conversations of the days gone by. They had said their good-byes.

We will honor this wonderful lady at the Clinton Frame Mennonite Church with visitation on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Her funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the church.

The door is closed, the phone is silent and our hearts are heavy. Night has fallen and our Mom, Grandma, friend suffers no more and she is resting in the arms of Jesus. A wonderful woman has left us to carry on until one day we too will join her.

Good night Dorothy — we love you.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Clinton Frame Mennonite Church. Thank you.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.