Mabel A. Johnson, 90
Mabel A. Johnson, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Feb. 25, 2017, at the Montana Veterans Home.
Mabel was born in Sidney on Nov. 12, 1926, to Marjorie and Lloyd Tewes. She was one of four children.
Upon graduating from high school, Mabel attended business school in Los Angeles. Sidney beckoned her back where she worked as a bookkeeper for the Rural Electric Co-op for several years. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leonard; he snatched her right up! They married Feb. 24, 1946. Together they purchased her dad’s cabin court and gas station where they shared the daily operations and ownership.
“Johnson Family Part One” began with the birth of four children, all within a couple years apart. While raising their children, Mabel continued to maintain the books for their cabin court and gas station.
In 1955, they left the flat plains of Eastern Montana to the majestic mountains and lakes of the Flathead Valley. While Mabel dedicated her life to her growing family, Leonard utilized his higher education in mechanics and auto-body repair working in various dealerships in Kalispell.
In Kalispell, “Johnson Family Part Two” began where four additional children were born, including a set of twins!
While maintaining her busy household, Mabel loved working in her flower beds, crocheting, knitting and needlepoint. Above all, Mabel was a master seamstress. She made all of her daughters’ clothing. One year she custom fit over 50 uniforms for the Flathead High School Drill Team! Her talents in sewing didn’t stop there; she sewed all of her daughters’ beautiful formals, and even created one of her daughter’s wedding dresses using four different patterns.
After raising her eight children, Mabel utilized her artistic talents in creating beautiful wreathes for Montana Evergreen.
After working a few years, she and Leonard decided to fully retire and enjoy the fruits of all their hard labor. They hooked up the camper and traveled all over the United States visiting friends and family. Later, their enjoyment was spending time with family and camping with their best friends Bea and Max Pugh.
In the last few years, Mabel and Leonard moved into the Montana Veterans Home, making new family and friends. We would like to acknowledge all of the wonderful staff at the Montana Veterans Home who provided such loving care and friendship for Mom.
She leaves behind her eight children and their spouses, Jim (Bethy) Johnson, John Johnson, Mike (Sonya) Johnson, Kathy Harp, Pat (Keila) Johnson, Margie (Steve) Herman, Mark (Suzanne) Johnson and Carol (Bruce) Kelley; and her sister, Patricia Matina. In addition, she has been blessed with 16 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and many new friends she made at the Montana Veterans Home.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Leonard Johnson; parents, Marjorie and Lloyd Tewes; and brothers, Thomas Tewes and Stan Tewes.
A public viewing will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, March 3, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, with a burial to follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the Johnson family.