Due to COVID concerns, the family requests masks required during the service.

Bernice Johnson, 94 of Goodridge, MN passed away peacefully on Friday, March 18, 2022, in Detroit Lakes, MN surrounded by her loving family and the compassionate caregivers of Ecumen communities and Hospice of the Red River Valley.  Services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, June 3, 2022 at Ekelund Lutheran Church, rural Goodridge, with Rev. Kristin Ostercamp officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Ekelund Church Cemetery.

Bernice Orissa Kjelgren was born July 7, 1927, on the family farm in Beltrami County, east of Grygla, MN. She was the daughter of John and Margaret (Omlid) Kjelgren. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith at Valle Lutheran Church at Grygla and confirmed at Ekelund Lutheran Church, rural Goodridge. Bernice attended country school at Grygla and rural Star Township at Goodridge, graduating high school at the Agricultural College in Crookston, MN. She attended teacher training school at Bemidji and taught country school for 2 years in Star and Hickory township. She left teaching to be a Mom and a homemaker.  She was later employed by Arctic Cat for 23 years.

Bernice met Leonard Johnson at a dance in Highlanding, and they were married on January 3, 1948. at the parsonage in Goodridge by Reverend Bjorgan.  Erling and Ella Dahlen were their attendants. The couple made their home on the Johnson family farm in rural Goodridge. To this union, 5 children were born. They ran a diverse farming operation.

Bernice was a member of Ekelund Lutheran Church and was active in the Ladies Aide and homemakers. She kept a large garden and loved canning vegetables and baking bread.  She enjoyed quilting and giving them as gifts. Her kitchen and the farm was a gathering place for all of the "city" relatives who spent their summers on the Minnesota farm. She loved her life on the farm and operated the farm when Leonard was working construction in the early years of their marriage.

Bernice and Leonard moved to Union Central Senior Living in Detroit Lakes in 2013. They enjoyed their time there visiting and socializing with their new community of friends, Leonard passed away in 2015

Bernice is survived by children: Richard (Sandra) Johnson, Fosston, MN, James (Joy) Johnson, Fairmont, MN, Patricia (Michael) Gwynn, Sioux Falls, SD, Curtis Johnson, Detroit Lakes, MN, and Robert (Jeanne) Johnson, East Gull Lake, MN: 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters: Mary Jane (Darrel) Mogen, Prineville, Oregon, Delores Daniels, Renton, Washington, along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Leonard; parents; brothers: Orville Kjelgren, Thorvald Kjelgren, Orley Kjelgren (KIA, WW II) and daughter-in-law, Karen Johnson.

In Lieu of Flowers, please make donations to Ekelund Lutheran Church, Goodridge, MN General Fund or the Ekelund Cemetery, Goodridge, MN Fund in memory of Bernice.