Middle River - Lois Johnson, 96, died Friday, February 26, 1999 at the White Community Nursing Home in Aurora.
Funeral services will be held today (Wednesday, March 3) at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Middle River with Reverend John Jorgensen officiating. Lois Peterson will be the organist, and vocal music will be provided by Barb Geer. Casketbearers will be Bruce Ellis, Jim Ellis, Michael Johnson, Charles Struble, Keith Struble and Jean Cote. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery in Middle River.
Visitation was held after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2 at the Collins Funeral Chapel in Middle River. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to services at the church.
Lois Suzanne Struble was born on February 8, 1903 at Anoka, the daughter of Charles and Carrie (Larson) Struble. As a child she moved with her family to the Mavie community near Thief River Falls She grew up there and attended Lincoln High School, graduating in 1921. She attended teacher's training in Thief River Falls and taught near Mavie and at Deer River and Newfolden.
On June 28, 1930 she was united in marriage to Loyal C. Johnson at Buchanan, ND. The couple farmed near Buchanan until 1935 when they moved to Strathcona. In 1940 they moved to Middle River. Lois taught at the Middle River School for many years, retiring in the mid-1960s.
After Loyal died on September 12, 1976, Lois continued to make her home in Middle River until 1997 when she moved to Valley Home in Thief River Falls. For the past month she has resided at White Community Nursing Home in Aurora.
She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Middle River.
Lois is survived by one daughter, Carol Ellis of Hoyt Lakes; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Vernice (William) Leftwich of Annadale, VA; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and two brothers, Howard and Keith. A00003B1999MR03