surrounded by her loving and devoted family. “But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to
understand that an Angel came and called my name and took me by the hand and said my place was
ready in Heaven above.”
Nacey was born and raised in Mankato, Minnesota. She graduated from Mankato High School. She first
saw Gary at the A & W in Mapleton, Minnesota. They enjoyed their time together walking over the
Minnesota River Bridge in Mankato come rain or come snow. After a four year courtship, they married
and moved to Missoula, Montana where Gary began teaching in 1961. Two years later, Nacey rejoiced
when they were able to move back home to Minnesota, where they would raise their six children.
Nacey was a devoted and loving daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, wife, mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother and friend. Her priority in life was caring for her family.
Nacey cherished her Bible and would spend hours with the scripture, even when she couldn’t always see
so well. She loved going to church on Sundays and when she couldn’t go to church, she listened to a
favorite minister on TV. She enjoyed listening to church hymns and gospel music. Her favorite song was
“The Old Rugged Cross.” She loved visiting with friends, shopping, (especially with her grandchildren),
watching Gopher football and enjoyed many years going to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. She loved
her dog and cat- Miah and Kitty. Christmas was her favorite time of year. She loved everything about it;
the tree, the snow, the music, the gift giving, and the time spent with her family. Nacey loved
unconditionally and touched so many lives with her smile, compassion and friendship. She spent her
last days, creating colorful crosses and drawings of Biblical verses to give to family and friends.
She was preceded in death by parents, Fremont and Louella and her brother, Terry.
Nacey will be deeply missed by her loving husband of 59 years, Gary; children, Lauri (Rob) Smith, Tommy
Johnston, Tippin Berg, Terry (Tracy Blowers) Johnston, Becki (Jay) Shin, and Jessi (Pete Deutscher)
Johnston; grandchildren, Nikki (Casey) Cantu, Danielle Smith, Ali (Adam) Ferguson, Brittany (Joe) Bozich,
Ashley (Quinn) Huebner, Katie Berg, Timmy Johnston, Lina, Christian, and Charlie; great-grandchildren,
Jaxon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Baby Cantu, Preston, Ella, Leo, Stella Nacey, and many other loving family and
friends.
Special thanks to the staff at Mercy Hospital and St Croix Hospice.
A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, June 25 at 1pm with a visitation one hour prior at Riverdale Church, 3210 Bunker Lake Blvd NW, Andover, MN. Due to CDC guidelines, there will be no lunch served. Masks are encouraged.
Inurnment at Morningside Memorial Gardens, Coon Rapids.
Memorials preferred to Minnesota Stroke Association.
