Virginia Carole Johnson

Virginia (Ginny) was born in Chicago to Harold and Marion Enerson Verburg on October 6, 1931. Ginny grew up in Irving Park on the Northwest side of Chicago. From the age of one until she was married to Ted Conterio in 1955 Ginny’s home was located at 3738 North Kildare Ave. The same home her father was raised built in 1910 by her grandfather Peter Verburg. It was located ½ block from Schurz High School. Not only did Ginny graduate from Schurz High School but so did both her parents, her Aunt Florence and both of her future husbands. Ginny’s father use to joke that when he heard the school bell sounding off from home, he could still run fast enough not to be tardy. In writing about her High School years Ginny wrote, “As a student I did well and graduated 12th in a class of over 300. I had excellent teachers and was well prepared in all subjects to move on to college.”

In Ginny’s growing up years most everything was in walking distance. The Irving Park School that took her to the 8th grade. Schurz High School and the Irving Park Methodist Church where she was very active. As a baby she was baptized in this Church. She married Ted Conterio in this Church and her first child Paul Conterio was also as a baby baptized in this Church.

Ginny was an active member of the Irving Park YMCA which was also in walking distance. Her grandfather Peter Verburg was one of the original charter members of the Y when it was built in 1926. 10 years later Nov 28, 1936, Ginny was pictured with her grandfather Peter on the front page of The Chicago Daily News as the Oldest and Youngest members of the Y.

In 1949 Ginny attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Ginny wrote, “My two years at Coe were a sheer delight.” She was very active socially and was voted the Military Ball Queen at the annual Military Ball for 1950. Ginny’s grades placed her in the top 10% of her class. Upon leaving college Ginny wrote, “On May 1952 I left my Alice in Wonderland college life and entered the lone & dreary world of work & boredom.” However, Ginny’s love of learning never ceased, and her education was simply put on hold. 25 years later in 1977 Ginny went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University. Then four years later in 1981 she earned a master’s degree majoring in Interpersonal Communications from Governors State University. From 1979 until 1990 Ginny worked for Forest Hospital as a Social Therapist and Team leader.

Ginny wrote, “On April 11, 1951, my mother gave birth to my brother, James David Verburg. So after almost 20 years as an only child, I now had a brother.”

In 1953 Ginny started working for Allstate Inc. It was there she met and started dating Ted Conterio in 1954. They were engaged on Christmas 1954 and married April 1955. From this marriage came Ginny’s 3 children. Paul born 1956, Karen 1958 and Kim 1962. As a family Ginny lived with her husband and Children in Des Plaines Illinois until 1966 and then in Northbrook Illinois until May 1983 when she and Ted divorced.

While living in Des Plaines Ginny and her children attended the United Church of Christ. Upon moving to Northbrook, she attended one time the Village Church of Northbrook. Not satisfied the next Sunday she started attending the United Methodist Church. When it came to faith and religion Ginny was a deep thinker. She would ask herself what is the purpose of our coming into existence and then dying? Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? In the summer of 1968 Ginny prayed to find answers to her spiritual yearnings. Within one week of her prayer two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-Day Saints knocked on her door. Elder Ralphs and Elder Alvey provided the answers to her questions. Ginny joined the Church that year and remained an active member her entire life.

In 1986 Ginny started dating Doug Johnson. Doug grew up a block away from Ginny and attended the same Methodist Church. She had known Doug from grade school. As their dating progressed Doug would attend church with Ginny, took the missionary discussions, and was baptized in 1987. In September 1988 Ginny and Doug were married. In May 1990 they were sealed in the Chicago Temple. Ginny loved to travel and so did Doug. Much of their short time together was doing just that. Ginny was very happy. Sadly, however in March 1992 Doug took a terrible fall where he ended up in the hospital with a shattered pelvis. While there he aspirated food into his lungs and passed away. From a previous marriage Doug had 3 children, two sons and a daughter. Craig, Carol & Bruce.

In 1993 Ginny and her 85-year-old mother Marion Verburg moved to Utah. Ginny purchased a home in Orem and Marion moved into a retirement center in Provo. Ginny loved Utah and loved her new Ward.

In 2015 Ginny moved to Plano Texas where she had been lovingly cared for by her two daughters Karen and Kim until her passing.

Virginia is survived by her three children, Paul Conterio (Ashlee), Karen Conterio, Kim (Patrick) Downes and 7 Grandchildren, Jacob Conterio, Kelly (Micah) Shipley, Jeremy (Kylen) Conterio, Joshua Downes, Austin Conterio, Matthew (Faith) Downes, Tyler Conterio and 8 Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother James (Debbie) Verburg.