Dorothy Johnson, 80, died on Saturday, December 27, 2008 at the Thief River Care Center.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at Abundant Life Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Wesley Langaas officiating. Burial will be in St. Hilaire Community Cemetery, St. Hilaire, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, January 2, 2009 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer service on Friday evening and also at the church for one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Dorothy Katie Wilhelm was born March 3, 1928, in Everson, WA, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Knoepfle) Wilhelm. She was baptized on July 29, 1928, confirmed at St. Pauli Lutheran Church and attended Plummer and St. Hilaire Schools. The family lived west of Plummer before moving west of St. Hilaire.

On July 28, 1946 Dorothy was united in marriage to Ahlert Johnson in Thief River Falls, MN. The couple made their home in St. Hilaire. She worked many years as a waitress.

Dorothys housekeeping was immaculate. She loved to cook, bake and can the produce from the garden that she and Ahlert grew. She loved to baby-sit her grandchildren when they were little. Dorothy loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also enjoyed dancing and cheering for the Minnesota Twins.

Dorothy had been a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in St. Hilaire and then a member of Abundant Life Church in Thief River Falls when they moved to Thief River Falls.

Survived by sons, Ronald K. (Linda) Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN and Douglas Johnson of St. Hilaire, MN; grandchildren, Randall Johnson, Brian Johnson, Garette Johnson, Shawn Johnson, Julie (Johnson) Hodgson, Joanie Johnson, Jodie Davy and Sherie Melby; great grandchildren; Brea Swanson, Meghan Johnson, Amanda Johnson, Tracey Meixther, Jason Meixther, Jordan Davy and Taylor Davy; sister, Sylvia Groom of Texas; brothers, Earl (Billie) Wilhelm of California and Vernon Wilhelm of Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents, her husband in 2001; brother, Lawrence Wilhelm and grandson, Eric Melby.

Family condolences may be sent by visiting www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ORGANIST: Eunice Grothe
SOLOIST: Jodie Davy, On Eagles Wings and The Old Rugged Cross
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Rock of Ages , Blessed Assurance and Amazing Grace
CASKETBEARERS: Randall Johnson, Brian Johnson, Garret Johnson, Shawn Johnson, Julie Hodgson and Joanie Johnson,
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Jodie Davy, Sherie Melby, and all of Dorothys friends and relatives