Peggy "Pat" Ann Johnson

Peggy “Pat” Johnson, daughter of Harvey C. and Eva Zenor Miller, was born in Dickens on March 27, 1931.  She was the fourth of nine children born to the Miller family.  She spent her childhood on the family farms tagging along with older brothers Bob and Jim and caring for her younger siblings.  Pat also enjoyed time spent with aunts, uncles and cousins.

     Pat graduated from Gillett Grove High School in 1948 at the age of 17.  On Nov. 8, 1949 Pat married William M. Johnson in Spencer.  Pat and Bill had two children, Gayle Lee and William Harvey.  Pat was a homemaker and mother as the family moved to Pocahontas, Sioux City, Storm Lake and back to Spencer.

     Pat enjoyed being a Cub Scout Leader, Brownie Leader, Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, PTA president of Lowell Elementary School in Sioux City and PTA president of South Elementary School in Storm Lake.  Pat later worked at several variety stores in Storm Lake and Spencer.  In 1974 Pat enrolled in bookkeeping classes at Iowa Lakes Community College, earning an associate’s degree, after which she became a teller at Farmers Trust and Savings Bank.  After retirement Pat worked at Spencer Pharmacy and Tom Thumb School.

     Pat was a gifted seamstress in addition to her crocheting and knitting talents.  She also completed some beautiful cross-stitch projects.  One of her favorite activities was being “G’ma” the card shark to her grandchildren.  She was affectionately called Grandma Pat by her California grandchildren.  As her health was failing, she delighted in playing Go Fish with her great-grandson, Everett, who called her Great G’ma.

     After her husband passed away, Pat enjoyed an occasional Farmers Bank-sponsored trip with her best pal, Lorrie Huffman and others.  She traveled to California to spend some quality time with her son and his family and her sisters who lived there.  And she greatly enjoyed the time spent with her sister Sharon and husband Roger.

     Past was a devoted member of Grace United Methodist Church, participating as a volunteer office assistant, greeter, member of Martha Circle and member of the widows group.  Pat helped with elections and was a mainstay at the north entrance to the Clay County Fair with her good friend, Lorrie Huffman.  Pat was most recently a proud member of the group of gals referred to as “the Ladies of the 80’s,” who frequented Table 316 Steakhouse in Arnolds Park.  Family, friends and fellowship were most important to Pat.

     Pat was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Todd Gates, and brothers Robert Miller, Gary Miller and James Miller.  Also preceding her in death were her brother-in-law Jack Johnson and wife Martha, brother-in-law Marvin Mathison, sister-in-law Joann Johnson, brother-in-law Vernon Jochims, sister-in-law Betty Johnson, sister-in-law Joyce and husband Dewey Ramsey, sister-in-law Marilyn Wolfe, and brother-in-law Ron Johnson.

     Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Gayle DeLoss and husband Vaughn, and her son Bill Johnson, all from Spencer.  Pat is survived by granddaughter Jayme DeLoss and Brett of Fort Collins, CO, granddaughter Robyn and Kyle DeLoss Henkler of Maple Grove, MN, granddaughter Laura and Tyler Hogrefe and their sons Everett and Finn of Ankeny, granddaughter Niki and Scott Kelley and their children Kendall and Kooper of Alta Loma, CA, and grandson Chris and Ericha Jarvis and son Kaden of Sarepta, LA.  Also cherishing Pat’s memory are sister Betty Miller of Storm Lake, sister-in-law Peggy Miller of Arnolds Park, sister Sharon and Roger Bracker of Bellevue, NE, sister Shirley Bennett of Lake Elsinore, CA, sister Nancy Novotne of Riverside, CA, sister Linda Brennan of Wichita, KS and daughter-in-law Mary Johnson of North Port, FL.  Also mourning her loss are Lillie Mathison of Bellevue, NE, Jim Johnson of Sioux City , Leota Jochims of West Des Moines, Otto Johnson of Grimes, Elton Wolfe of Des Moines, and Pam Johnson of Colorado.  Pat is also survived by a very special Aunt Irene Schossow of Pocahontas, and she shared close friendships with Lorrie Huffman, Marilyn Johnson and Helen Porter.  Pat had a vivacious personality and will be greatly missed by many nieces, nephews, friends and church family.

SERVICES

OFFICIATING

VISITATION

MUSIC

INTERMENT