Gladies Johnson of Sun City, AZ, formerly of Karlstad, MN, peacefully passed away on February 15, 2013 at Sun Valley Lodge Assisted Living Retirement Community in Sun City, Arizona, 2 days before her 101st birthday. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday February 23, 2013 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday. Gladies was born in Karlstad, MN on February 17, 1912 to Swen and Selma Erickson, where she spent her early years and attended school. She married Arnold Johnson. They had three children: Emojean, Donan, and Barbara. In 1941, they moved to Chicago and worked there until they retired and moved back to Minnesota and settled in Thief River Falls. Gladies enjoyed the outdoors, working in her flower gardens, hanging out laundry, taking daily walks with her sister and tending her raspberry bushes - the family will always remember the delicious raspberry and rhubarb jam she made! She was an avid reader. Family and friends were fortunate to be gifted with beautiful Afghans she crocheted. They were always welcomed in her home where she served endless delicious meals. The grandchildren especially enjoyed the large variety of cookies, which they now are baking themselves. She is survived by two daughters, Emojean Nelson, Sun City, AZ, and Barbara Rose, Los Gatos, CA; one son, Donan Johnson, Park Ridge, IL; one sister, Marian Bigstad, Moorhead, MN; six grandchildren, Brad Nelson, Sun City, AZ, Michelle Ausmann, Newcastle, WY, Brian Nelson, Sioux Falls, SD, Marcia Nelson, Colorado Springs, CO, Jeffrey Johnson, Indianapolis, IN, and Kris Brand, Palatine, IL; 13 great-grandchildren, Courtney VanZanten, Gabe Steffen, Carli and Calbi Ausmann, Lukas Nelson, Kristen, Ruth-Ann, and Jacob Hadjis, Ryan Johnson, Melissa, Philip, and Heather Brand; one great-great-granddaughter, Annika VanZanten; and several nieces and nephews. Gladies is preceded in death by her parents; husband Arnold; sisters, Elsie Rustad, Esther Erickson, and Margaret Hill; brother Stanley Erickson; son-in-law Gordon Nelson; daughters-in-law, Phyllis Johnson and Donna Johnson; beloved granddaughter Marita Steffen; special nephew Kurt Gigstadl; and a great-grandson Tanner Ausmann, a courageous little fighter. Gladies loved her family and will be greatly missed. We are truly blessed to have wonderful treasured memories.