Mildred Busse Johnson

Mildred Busse Johnson, age 92, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2016, at Laurels Edge in Mankato, MN.

Funeral Service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, January 23, 2016, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior to the service. She will be laid to rest at Jasper City Cemetery in Jasper, MN.

Mildred was born in Slayton, MN on November 12, 1923, to Alfred and Cora Busse. When she was three years old, her family moved to a farm in Mahnomen, MN. After her father’s death in 1939, her mother moved the family to Mankato, MN. Mildred graduated from Mankato High School in 1941. She attended Mankato Commercial College and became a legal secretary. She worked for former MN Chief Justice S.B. Wilson at his law firm which later became Wilson, Blethen, Ogle and Gage Law Firm.

Mildred married Wallace E. Johnson on June 23, 1946. They had four children; Gary, Denver, CO, Gail (Wayne) Date, Mankato, MN, Jennifer (Philip) LeBeau, Jelm, WY, Michael (Elizabeth), Houston TX; eight grandchildren, Katie (Jesse Ledin) Date, Matthew (Keri) Date, Nicole (Nicolas) Hauser, Chad (Rachel) LeBeau, Josef LeBeau, Elyssa, Hannah, and Macey Johnson; and six great-children, Liam Date, Alexa and Blaire Hauser, Cecilia, Vivian and Henry LeBeau. Mildred is also survived by her sister, Marjorie Murphy and sister-in-law Donna Story.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wallace E. Johnson in 1982; and sisters, Dorothy Cain and Margaret Long.

Mildred lived out her Christian faith and love for Jesus by serving others. She was very active throughout her life in her church and volunteering in her community.

Her great love in retirement (after working 26 years as Office Manager for Coca Cola) was making quilts for missions and needy families. Making quilts was a tangible way for Mildred to show her care and concern for others. Her quilts are warming others around the world through Lutheran World Relief, Mission of Mercy and Hope’s Promise.