Helen E. Johnson

Funeral Services for Helen E. Johnson, 93, of Lake View and Indianola, Iowa, were held at the Lake View United Church of Christ, of which she was a member, on Friday, January 9, 2004. The Reverend Jerry Schultz officiated. Helen passed away at the Indianola Good Samaritan Center on Monday, January 5 from complications of pneumonia. Interment was made in Ferguson Cemetery, Lake View, Iowa, under the direction of Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Lake View.

Visitation is Wednesday, January 07, 2004, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Lake View.

Helen E. Johnson, age 93, of Lake View and Indianola, Iowa, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home at Indianola.

Helen was born in Clear Lake, South Dakota on February 11, 1910, the daughter of Rev. George Alonzo and Cora Adella (Lindsay) McKinley. She grew up in Marshall, Minnesota; Pierre, South Dakota; Jewell, Iowa; and Lancaster, Wisconsin. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1928.

Her family moved to Lake View, Iowa, in 1929 when her father assumed the pastorate of the First Congregational Church, now the United Church of Christ. Helen attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa (now UNI) and graduated with a 2-year degree in Upper Elementary Education in 1932. She taught in the public schools of Cushing, Iowa from 1934-37 and Creighton, Nebraska, from 1937-39.

On March 25, 1939, she married Allen A. Johnson of Lake View at the First Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, Iowa. They became the parents of four children: Byron (Pan) of Indian Harbour Beach, Florida; Gordon (Erlene) of Sioux City, Iowa; Sally of Indianola, Iowa; and Susan (Glenn) Ivarsen of Sioux City, Iowa.

While spending her adult life in Lake View, Helen was best known as “the lady in the office.” She served the Lake View Public and Lake View-Auburn Community Schools as Secretary to the Superintendent from February 1, 1954, until retirement on June 30, 1975. During this time she had the pleasure of working with Superintendents Clair Iverson, Don McKinley, Loyd Johnson, and Charles Ferguson. She always enjoyed her work and the wonderful camaraderie of the staff during those 21+ years.

Helen liked to keep as busy as possible doing handiwork. Between the ages of 80 and 92 she made approximately 30 beautiful counted cross-stitch pictures. When she wasn’t doing that, she would crochet afghans or doilies. Helen was an avid Hawkeye and Chicago Cubs fan; and her family would usually have to fight her for the daily paper, as she wanted to be the first to do the Jumble Puzzle. She always enjoyed the Summer Water Carnival in Lake View and watching and chasing the Hot Air Balloons in Indianola.

Helen is survived by her four children and their spouses; six grandchildren: Allen and Julie Johnson of Orlando, Florida; Gail (John) Brandt of Sioux City, Iowa; Jean (Mick) Thares of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Deb (Russ) Johnson of Osceola, Iowa; and Kevin Ivarsen of Iowa City, Iowa. Six great-grandchildren also survive her: David and Nathan Brandt; Andrew and Hailey Thares; and Jordan and Taylor Johnson.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Allen in January 1973; her parents; three brothers: Carmi, Austin, and Rev. Orland McKinley; and two sisters: Edna DuBois and Ruth Loder.

Memorial donations may be directed to the WLVA Superintendent’s Office Technology Fund, Lake View, Iowa.