Grace Montgomery Johnson

Grace was born and raised in the rural farm town of Madison in western Minnesota - living there with her parents and three brothers. She was an accomplished roller/ice skater. Her father died tragically in a fire when she was eighteen, so her mother, Ella, lived with her for the duration of her life.

She moved to Texas in 1947 with her mother, Ella and younger brother, Jim. While living there, she met and married Bill Montgomery.

In 1952, the couple moved to Rochester, MN where daughter Marsha was born. Then in 1954 they moved to Minneapolis, where son Scott was born.

In 1959 the family moved to Eau Claire, WI, where they would live for the next 20 years. Their first residence was located just two doors down from the Calvary Baptist Church. Grace walked there with the kids every week in those early days. They would make this their worship home until they left Eau Claire in 1980.

Grace was very devoted to her kids, making sure they were in church, Sunday School and youth group every week - something that her children are very grateful to their mother for doing. She was always hosting youth group activities and missionaries at her home. Grace knew Jesus as Lord and Savior and guided her children Marsha & Scott into making the same commitment to God.

In 1966, Grace & Bill divorced, leaving Grace to raise Marsha & Scott with their grandmother Ella. After the divorce, money was very tight as Grace had to support the family on the meager salary of a secretary. Grandma Ella was a seamstress by trade and helped by sewing much of the kid's clothing and doing many household chores.

Despite having lesser means than many, Grace made a wonderful life for her family. Denying many of the things she could have pursued for herself, she focused instead on her children, always planning fun birthday parties, camping trips, picnics and bike rides. She saved enough to take the family on "driving" vacations. Once in the 1960s she drove the family to southern California via Route 66 – making a very fond and enduring memory for all.

Grace loved to engage with the families of her brothers Jim, Everett & Arnie, who lived in Minneapolis at the time. Holidays always included either a trip to Minneapolis or hosting her brothers at the house in Eau Claire. Picnics were also a regular event for bringing the whole family together, often meeting "half way" in Hudson, WI.

Daughter Marsha worked as a Flight Attendant, allowing Grace to travel very economically. So she visited relatives in Norway 4 times in the '70's, 80's & 00's. She also traveled to Hawaii, England & France with friends.

Grace met her second husband, Chester Johnson, in 1990 and they married in 1991. They worshiped together at Bloomington Covenant Church. The two enjoyed many memorable experiences in the 8 or so years they had together - traveling to Australia, Hawaii, Hong Kong, US National Parks, Route 66, California Missions, the Covenant Bible Camp in MN. They vacationed often with family & friends in Salt Lake City, California, and Florida. At their home in Bloomington, MN, they hosted friends & family often. After Chester's death in 1998, Grace continued to enjoy travel, visiting her family in the US and Norway.

Grace didn't let life happen to her - she embraced it fully from her earliest days to her final years. She blessed her loved ones and those she met along the way with generosity, hospitality and her gracious, friendly way. She always demonstrated her love for Christ in the way she treated others. The expression of her faith was woven into the fabric of her life and was known to all her many friends and family. The world was a brighter place because of her. She will be missed.

May she rest peacefully now in the loving arms of Jesus - her Lord and Savior.

A visitation for Grace will be held Tuesday, February 21, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Bloomington Covenant Church, 10150 Xerxes Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55431. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 10150 Xerxes Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55431. A burial will occur Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Sunset Cemetery, 2250 St Anthony Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsetfuneralservices.com for the Johnson family.