Shirley Johnson

Shirley Johnson passed away peacefully on August 25, 2020, at her assisted living apartment in Chatfield, surrounded by family.  She was 87 years old.

Shirley Joanne Bothun was born December 22, 1932, to Eilef and Mary Bothun in Chatfield Minn.  She attended school in Chatfield and graduated from Chatfield High School in 1951.  After graduation she worked at the Worrell Hospital in Rochester as a nurse aide.  She later worked Wiedenhief Grocery Store in Chatfield until she married Orvis Johnson on September 9, 1953 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. 

The couple moved to the Johnson family farm in rural Fountain, Minn., where they farmed until 1956 when they moved into Chatfield.  Shirley then went to work at Security Mutual Insurance Company and later the First State Bank of Fountain until she began raising a family in late 1967.  She gave birth to her first child, Lynette in December 1967 and her second daughter, Janelle, in December 1968.  She kept busy raising her daughters until 1974 when she went to work for Perkins Law Office, and subsequently became the secretary of Chatfield Lutheran Church until approximately 1994 when she retired.

Shirley loved to travel.  She took her little family on summer road trip vacations every year, and the couple traveled along with the Chatfield Brass Band to Washington, D.C.  She has been to 47 of the 50 states.  She also enjoyed international travel to Venezuela, Ireland, Italy, and Norway with family and friends.  She loved her Red Hat ladies and all of their adventures.  Shirley also enjoyed doing puzzles and was an active member of Chatfield Lutheran Church for over 50 years.

Shirley was a wonderful grandmother to her four beloved grandsons: Andrew, Alex, Adam, and Aaron.  She was active in their lives, attending many football, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse games, cross country and track meets, and music recitals.  She was each of their biggest fan.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Orvis, her mother and father Mary and Eilef Bothun, siblings Everett Bothun, Lillian Losey, Merle Bothun, Irvin Bothun, Avis Skrukrud, Elroy Bothun, Darlene Rehbien, Jerry Bothun and Dale Bothun.  She is survived by her daughters Lynette (Mike) Simser of Minneapolis, Minn., and Janelle (Randy) Paulson of Chatfield, and her grandsons Andrew Simser of Eau Claire, Wis., Alex (Kayla) Paulson of Chatfield, Minn., Adam Simser of Mankato, Minn., and Aaron Paulson of Minnetonka, Minn. 

The funeral service will be Saturday, August 29, 2020, at 1 p.m. at Chatfield Lutheran Church, with visitation one hour before services.  Burial will be in Chatfield Cemetery.  To share a condolence or memory with the family, please visit rileyfuneralhomes.com.