Dixie D. Johnson

Dixie D. Johnson, age 93, of Mankato, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 4, 2020 at Ecumen Pathstone Living.

A service will be held at a later date to be announced.  Please leave condolences for the family at www.mankatomortuary.com

Dixie was born December 10, 1926, in the mining town of Picher, Oklahoma to Claude and Freda (Hanrahan) Carroll.  She graduated from Picher High School and then worked for the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. from 1944-46.  She met her future husband, Russell Johnson, a Marine from Gaylord, Minnesota, while visiting her brothers in the Navy in San Diego.  Dixie and Russ were married May 9, 1945 and were together for 61 years until Russ’s passing in May 2006.

Dixie found great joy and fulfillment working with young people. Many will remember her for her work at Brett’s Department Store for 20 years, where she was a fashion consultant and Director of Brett’s Teen Board. Dixie mentored hundreds of high school women during those years, and Brett’s won several national awards from “Seventeen” magazine for her work.  For many years, she also was in charge of high school youth activities for the First Presbyterian Church. Dixie co-hosted “On Scene”, a local TV program modeled after American Bandstand, which featured high school students from around the region. 

Dixie also devoted her considerable energy to charitable organizations. She was the first woman appointed to the Mankato YMCA’s Board of Directors and served on regional and national YMCA youth commissions. In 1985, she was named a Woman of Distinction by the YWCA, and she was instrumental in the merger of the local YMCA and YWCA. She organized “Fashion on Ice” as a fundraiser for the YMCA and was also active in supporting and raising thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society

Dixie will be remembered for her high level of positive energy, extraordinary character, impeccable fashion sense, and eagerness to help others.  She enjoyed boating, golfing, playing Bridge and entertaining her family and friends with Russ at their Lake Washington home.  Her last years were spent adoring her great-grandchildren.

Dixie is survived by her sons, Dale (Gail) of Salem, MA, Brad (Tracy) of Washington D.C., and Bruce (Eileen) of Mankato; grandchildren Jeremy Johnson, Amanda (Tomas) Jegeus, Nathan (Ashley) Smith, Brian Johnson and Erin (Josh) Raines; great-grandchildren Jacoby, Jenevieve and Jovie Raines and Forrest and Bodhi Smith; sister Pat Caswell.  She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, 2 brothers and husband, Russ.

Dixie’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Ecumen Pathstone and St. Croix Hospice for their wonderful care of her.