Louise M. Johnson

Louise M. Johnson age 91 of Zumbrota died on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the Zumbrota Health Services. A memorial mass is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 11:00 Am at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Zumbrota with Father Tim Dolan officiating. Inurnment will be in Zumbrota Cemetery. Visitation is one hour prior to the service on at the church.
Louise Marie Altmann was born on July 12, 1918 in St. Paul, MN to Robert and Jean (nee Haas) Altmann. She grew up in St. Paul and graduated from Harding High School in 1936. She started working for 3M Company. She married Merlin West in St. Paul. They made their home in St. Paul and later in Webster, MN. Merlin was killed in an airplane crash in November of 1944 in the Boundary Waters. Louise moved to Northfield and operated the Stanton Airport for Carleton College. On September 1, 1945 she married Gerald W. Johnson in Northfield. They lived in Webster and operated a general merchandise store and meat locker plant until moving to Zumbrota in 1954. They owned and operated the Ben Franklin Store in Zumbrota until retiring in the early 1980's. Gerald died on November 10, 1989. Louise was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and enjoyed golfing, playing cards, gardening and raising flowers. Louise is survived by her daughter, Carol (Michael) O'Reilly of Cottonwood, MN, her son Joe (Laurie) Johnson of Zumbrota, granddaughters, Heather (Ryan) Zick and Megan Johnson, grandsons, Sean (Robin) O'Reilly and Matt Johnson, and two great grandchildren, Katelyn and Gavin Zick. Louise was preceded in death by her husbands, Merlin West and Gerald Johnson and brother, Robert Altmann, sisters, Marian McDaniel and Virginia Schroeder. Arrangements are with the Mahn Family Funeral Home - Larson Chapel in Zumbrota.