Thief River Falls - Grace Johnson, 66, died Friday, October 9, 1998 at the CNC Unit of Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 13 at 10 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with Reverend Marcia Sylvester officiating. Joyce Halbasch was the organist, and vocal music was provided by Judith Lawrence. Marie Hvidsten and Alicia Roadfeldt presented a flute duet. Casketbearers were Mark Hamberg, Michael Hvidsten, Allan Jensen, Bruce Jensen, Ronald Jensen and Donald Merdink. Burial was in Salem Cemetery, Stephen. The Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Grace Pauline Hamberg was born on November 2, 1931 in Nelson Park township near Strandquist, the daughter of Jons and Gunda (Nelson) Hamberg. She was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church, rural Stephen. She attended school, graduating from Karlstad High School. She then attended Akers Business College in Grand Forks, ND. Grace moved to Washington, DC where she worked as a secretary for Minnesota Congressman Odin Langen.
Grace returned to the Stephen area and in 1961 married Kenneth Larson at Salem Lutheran Church. The couple made their home in Gardner, ND.
She later married Larry Johnson in 1975. The couple lived in various locations including several years in Colorado Springs, CO. Grace returned to Thief River Falls in 1981 where she worked at the public library.
She enjoyed her family and grandchildren and helping her sister Verna at the nursery.
Grace is survived by one son, John (Susan) Larson of Wahpeton, ND; two daughters, Carol (Daniel) Running of Newport News, VA and Nancy (David) Brustad of Devils Lake, ND; six grandchildren; one brother, Roy (Lorraine) Hamberg of Battle Lake; four sisters, Nan Hamberg of Thief River Falls, Verna (Orville) Hvidsten of Thief River Falls, Ruby Jenson of Stephen and Ann ("Dutch") Merdink of Stephen; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one granddaughter, Mary Running; two brothers, Nels and Harry Hamberg; and one sister, Blenda Hamberg.