Ethel M Johnson

Mankato Mortuary
507-388-2202

Ethel Mathilda (Eklo) Johnson, age 97, of Mankato died Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Pathstone Living in Mankato.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 21, 2010 at Grace Lutheran Church, Mankato. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Thursday. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Mankato. Memorials are preferred to Mt. Olivet Cemetery or Grace Lutheran Church.

Ethel Mathilda was born October 8, 1913 to Berth J. and Malene (Opsal) Eklo in Mobridge, South Dakota. Her childhood was spent on the family farm in Mobridge. She attended school in Mobridge and graduated from high school in 1932. After high school, she moved to Mankato and attended Mankato Commercial College. She worked 15 years as a secretary at Mankato Citizens Telephone Co. She married Lawrence L. Johnson on December 1, 1950 at Grace Lutheran Church, Mankato. They lived in North Mankato.

Ethel's children, grandchildren, and spouses were one of the most enjoyable parts of her life. Ethel was active in various organizations of Grace Lutheran Church. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading, and baking.

Ethel is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Gladys and Terry Barbeau of Mankato; son, Raoul Johnson and special friend, Judy Kudrle of Elysian; two granddaughters, Jennifer Rittenhouse (Shawn Ramey) of Minneapolis and Lori (Chris) Wollmuth of Mankato; two grandsons, Jon (Lori) Barbeau of Mankato and Justin Barbeau (Jen Grey) of Mankato; sister-in-law, Elsie Sohre of Mankato; many nieces and nephews.

Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence L. Johnson in 1988; brother, Melvin Eklo in 1992; sister Florence Jacobson in 1995; and brother, Ben Eklo in 2007.