Thief River Falls - Mardell Johnson, 67, died Friday, October 2, 1998 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with Reverend Tim Bauer officiating. Ida Nordvall was the organist, and vocal music was provided by Joel Kezar. Casketbearers were all of Mardell's grandchildren, Travis, Jared and Nathan Housey, Adam Johnson, Brent, Ross and Gina Salverson, and Guy, Justin, Jacob and Tyler Johnson. Burial was in the Community Cemetery in St. Hilaire. The Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Mardell Lorraine Olson was born on August 11, 1931 in Roseau, the daughter of George and Elsie (Mickelson) Olson. She attended elementary school in Salol and high school in Roseau.
In November of 1949 she was united in marriage to Arnell Johnson in Roseau. The couple moved to Minneapolis where her husband attended school. Arnell was then employed in LaHabra, CA where the family resided for four years. In 1956 the Johnson family moved to Circle Pines where they resided until they moved to Erskine in 1968. In 1970 Mardell and Arnell moved to Thief River Falls where they have since resided.
She devoted her life to her family and especially enjoyed time spent with family and friends. She also enjoyed fishing and growing flowers.
Mardell is survived by her husband, Arnell; three daughters, Barb (Raymond) Housey and Susan Johnson, both of Thief River Falls, and Kathleen (Allan) Salverson of Erskine; one son, Gregory (Diane) Johnson of St. Hilaire; her mother, Elsie Olson of Roseau; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Irene Snow of Roseau; six brothers, Vern Olson of Elk River, Harley Olson of Roseau, Dale Olson of Shoreview, Leland and Mark Olson, both of Mesa, AZ and Steven Olson of Lakefield; three aunts; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her father, George; and two brothers, Stanton Olson and Everett Olson.