Ellen Holstein Johnson

Ellen H. Johnson, the daughter of Julius Georg Vilhelm Magnussen and Anna Vilhelmine Jespersen was born Dec. 2, 1912 in Dickson Alberta, Canada and died Mar. 22, 2008 at Washington County Hospital and Clinics in Washington, IA at the age of 95 years, 3months, and 20 days.
    Her fathers ministry took the family from Dickson to Flaxton, ND, Elba, NE, Ord, NE and finally to Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Audubon County, Iowa.  She was baptized in Dickson and confirmed in Ord, NE in 1926.  She was in the last confirmation class to be confirmed in the Danish language.   She graduated from Audubon High School with the class of 1931 and attended Dana College in Blair, NE as a music major for one year.
     On June 8, 1933 she was united in marriage to Fred Jensen at Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon. Four children were born to this union; Betty, David, Charlotte, and Neil. They farmed east of Audubon until Fred died in 1953. Ellen moved to Kimballton, IA after his death and worked as a teller at Landmands National Bank for 13 years.
     On Sept. 25, 1970 she married Harvey Johnson at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA.   They farmed until their retirement in 1973.   After Harveys death on Oct. 9, 1993, she continued to live in Audubon.  In 2001 she moved to Halcyon House, a retirement community in Washington, Iowa.
     Preceding her in death were her husbands: Fred and Harvey; her parents, her brothers and sisters Seth, Vivian, Philip, Ethan (Bill), Victor, Irene, Vasthi, Beata and John; and her step children; Connie and Jack Mendenhal.
     Surviving are her children, Betty V. Thielen of Des Moines, IA,  David D. (Jean) Jensen of Bartlesville, OK. Charlotte A. (Ron) Andersen of Washington, IA and Neil R. (Carol) Jensen of Inola, OK.  Her marriage to Harvey also welcomed Connie and Jack Mendenhal and their three children into the family.
     Grandchildren:  Daniel Thielen, Darryl Thielen, Linda Hall, Larry Thielen, Kim Mabry, Brenda Burt, Barry (Kim) Jensen, Kristin Blessman, Kent (Tammy) Andersen, Wendy (Scott) Bagley, Carolyn Jensen,
Nick Jensen, Sharie (Jim) Kernan, Linda (Steve) Cotton and Patti (Rod) Saylor. 
     Ellen also had 23 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.  In addition she is survived by her brothers-in-law Herluf Christensen of Co. Bluffs, Iowa and Vern (Marie) Jensen of Audubon.
     A memorial service will also be held at Halcyon House Chapel on April 10, at 3:00 PM.

Memorials:
The family prefers memorials to Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon; the Audubon Public Library; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Washington, IA or Good Samaritan Fund Halcyon House, Washington, Iowa.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends at the church from 9:00 AM until the Celebration of Life service at 10:30.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Christopher Martin on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon.