Sylvia L Johnson

Sylvia was born July 25, 1917 in Snellman, MN, to Matti and Selma Hintsala. She was baptized in the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran church. She attended Shell Lake Township School. Sylvia worked in Minneapolis and Duluth before marrying Arvo I. Johnson on November 8, 1937. They resided in Rice Lake Township where she gardened, canned, picked berries, and worked on their small family farm to support their large family. Later, Sylvia worked in house-keeping for Onieda Realty and the University of Minnesota, Duluth before retiring in 1979. She was a member of the Family of God Lutheran Church.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her loving husband of 44 years, Arvo; daughter, Gloria J. Johnson; son-in-law, Richard K. Frank; her parents; two brothers, John and Matt; two sisters, Bessie Simukka and Mayme Rajanen; and four siblings that passed away as children.

She is survived by 10 children, Marilyn (George) Moore, of Brown Deer, WI, Delores (Robert) Levander, of Duluth, Karen (Wayne) Cole, of Farmington, MN, Myrna Frank, of LaCrosse, WI, Lorraine (Ronald) McLevis, of Akeley, MN, Maynard (Shirley), of Prior Lake, MN, Linda Johnson, of Duluth, Sandra Bartsias, of Minneapolis, Debra (Glen) Filipovich, of Duluth and Katherine (James) Johnson, of Mounds View, MN; 23 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; her sister, Anita Johnson, of LaCrosse, WI; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank the staffs at Senior Friends, Primrose Assisted Living, Viewcrest Health Care, and St. Luke’s Hospice for the care given to their mother in her last years. Memorials to St. Luke’s Hospice are preferred in lieu of flowers.

Visitation from 9:00am until the 10:00am funeral service Tuesday, December 21st at the Family of God Lutheran Church, 4097 Martin Road. Interment will be at the Finnish Lutheran Cemetery in Finlayson. Please leave a memory of Sylvia or words of support for the family at www.bellbrothersjarvidowd.com Arrangements by the Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home, 925 E. 4th St.