Thief River Falls - Claire Johnson, 86, died Thursday, July 13, 2000 at the CNC unit of Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Mass of Christian
burial was held 
at 2 p.m. on Monday,
July 17, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls with
Father Dennis Wieland officiating. Kristi LaSalle was the organist,
and the soloist was Diane Lillehei. Casketbearers were Raymond
Johnson, Frank Womack, Terry Johnson, Tim Johnson, Dale Johnson and
Ben Heyn. Interment was in St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery in Thief
River Falls. Green Funeral Home was in charge of the
arrangements.
Claire Mary Guth was born on April 6, 1914 in Staples, the daughter of Louis and Katherine (Kinsella) Guth. She grew up and attended school in Staples, graduating from high school there. After attending a beauty school in Minneapolis, she came to Thief River Falls where she worked as a manager at Benson's Beauty Shop.
On February 12, 1939, Claire was united in marriage to Gordon O. Johnson. While Gordon served with the U.S. Army in Alaska during World War II, she worked at the Pacific Car and Foundry as a lathe operator. When the war ended, Claire took a boat to Kodiak, Alaska where she joined her husband. The couple returned to Thief River Falls where they purchased the Soo Cafe with Gordon's brother, Ray.
In 1950, they sold the Soo Cafe and started the Western Auto Store and purchased the Sportsman's Store from Fred Wengler. After buying Hub Clothing, they moved Western Auto Store and Hub Clothing Store to the Elk's Building, and Claire started selling toys and crafts in the basement. In 1967, Gordon and Claire sold the store to Irv Wilson. They moved to Duluth and then returned to Thief River Falls when they retired. They lived at Valley Home and later moved to Oakland Park Nursing Home and then to the CNC unit at Northwest Medical Center.
Claire is survived by her husband, Gordon; one son, Robert (friend Randi Moeller) Johnson of Blaine; one grandson; two sisters, Marilyn Johnson of St. Paul and Murial Hagen of San Diego, Calif.; and one brother-in-law, Raymond Johnson of Thief River Falls.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Collette Guth; and two brothers, Robert and Jerry Guth. A00003B2000JL19