Ethel Johnson, died March 11, 2012 at the Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN Funeral Service will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, rural Oklee MN, with Reverend Jonathan Dodson officiating. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 PM - 8 PM, with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, and also one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Wednesday. Ethel Bernice Burman was born August 31, 1929 in Red Lake County, Equality Township, near Oklee, MN, the daughter of Axel and Bertha (Nelson) Burman. She was baptized and confirmed at Clearwater Lutheran Church, rural Oklee. Ethel attended rural grade school and graduated from Oklee High School in 1947. She attended teacher's training in Red Lake Falls, MN for a year before teaching in a one-room schoolhouse at Pleasant View School north of Oklee. On December 19, 1948, Ethel was united in marriage to Otto Johnson at Salem Lutheran Church, rural Oklee. The couple lived with Charley and Mary Johnson on the homestead farm until Otto and Ethel purchased a farm north of Oklee. They lived and farmed there until they built a house in Oklee in 1980. After Otto died in 1996, Ethel remained in Oklee until she moved to Grand Forks, ND in 2002. Ethel spent her last years in the Thief River Care Center. Ethel taught in country schools, worked for Inter-County Community Council and Head Start, did census taking, was an aide in a nursing home, worked at Northern Pride, and sewed at ArctCo. In addition to being a mother of five children, a wife, and a homemaker, Ethel was active in the church, Ladies Aid, 4-H, and Farmers Union. She spent considerable time gardening and canning, running errands, caring for farm animals and making meals for hungry helpers. Ethel loved to sew, read, cook, bake, entertain, and play cards. She always had time for family and was willing to lend a helping hand to others. She is survived by children: Betty (Milton) Leiran, Minnetonka, MN, Marlene (Jack) Brown, Portland, OR, Charlie (Lora) Johnson, Oklee, MN, Mary Townsend, Grand Forks, ND, Brenda Jo (Brent) Gillund, West Fargo, ND; grandchildren: Heather (Bary), Harmony, Monique (Brad), Joey, Jeremiah "JJ" (Catherine), Charlie "JR", Jarrod (Amanda), Benjamin, and Anastasia; great grandchildren: Samuel, Olivia, Brett, Zack,Wakely, Jennifer, Ethan, and Jordan; sisters: Mavis Brekke, Marie Weaver, and Faith Lamkin; and many nieces and nephews. Ethel was preceded in death by her husband Otto; granddaughter, Jodie Johnson; parents; brothers, Alvin and Marvin; sister, Betty Lou; sister-in-law, Marion (Prelvitz) Burman Chew; brothers-in-law, George Weaver, Arlie Brekke, and Bill Lamkin. Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com ORGANIST: Gelene Lundeen SPECIAL MUSIC: Brenda Gillund; Rod Gillund SELECTIONS: "Amazing Grace", "One Day at a Time" and "The Lord's Prayer CASKETBEARERS: Arlen Brekke, Dale Brekke, Jim Vedbraaten, Lynn Burman, Richard Clark and Vince Lundeen