Verta F. Johnson, 91, of Rushford, Minn., died on Monday, November 28, 2022, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.
Verta Faye Louks was was born one of 20 children to Virgil and Florence (Simpson) Louks on April 17, 1931, in Martin County, Minn.
Verta grew up in Kasson, Minn., where she worked at the Kasson Bakery. On July 31, 1953, she was united in marriage with Roger Johnson. In 1959, the couple moved to Rushford. Verta cleaned the St. Joseph’s Catholic Rectory in Rushford as well as some people’s homes. She also worked at the Rushford Bakery, Rushford Municipal Liquor Store, and her son Butch’s Drive Inn in Rushford. Verta enjoyed collecting angels and cardinals, playing Bingo, listening to music and shopping. She was a woman with a lot of spunk. Verta had a very strong will and was known to be a prankster. She was a member of Rushford Lutheran Church.
Verta is survived by three sons: Butch Johnson, Rick (Barb) Johnson, and Robbie (Tanya) Johnson; five grandchildren: Christopher “Chip,” Kaycee (Jamie), Kyle, Brandon (Naomi), and Bryant; four great-grandchildren: Mason, Harper, Colt and Chase; and five siblings: Vivian, Roger, Pat, Linda, and Terry.
She was preceded in death by her husband and 14 siblings: Bill, Wayne, Kenneth, Bob, Jerry, Dick, Jim, Grace, Darlene, Betty, Mary, Bonnie, Audrey, and Judy.
There will be a funeral service for Verta at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 5, 2022, at Rushford Lutheran Church with Pastor Steve Chellew officiating. Burial will be in the Rushford Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at Hoff Funeral Home in Rushford, and one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.
Please leave a memory of Verta and sign her online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com
Teresa Louks says
As a young child my parents would take us to visit Aunt Verta and Uncle Roger, but it was never an excursion that I looked forward to. My Aunt Verta held a yard stick tightly gripped in her hand and would often crack it across the table while telling the kids to behave. I always stood close to my parents and secretly wished we could go home because I was scared to death of her. Many years passed – maybe 20-25 years later, my mom called me and told me that Aunt Verta was experiencing deep sadness and loneliness after Uncle Roger passed away. At that moment, I picked up the phone and called Aunt Verta. I remember crying as I told her how scared I was of her as a little kid and I regretted not getting to know her over the years…. I think we spent approximately 2-3 hours on the phone that day reconnecting. Verta was crying and so was I as we reminisced and shared stories about life and love. I got to see a very dear and warm hearted woman that afternoon and it totally changed me. I truly fell in love with a stranger in that short period of time. When we disconnected that day, I contacted the local florist and the hardware store and had a beautiful bouquet arranged with 12 yardsticks attached and delivered to her home – a gesture of love, happiness and reconnection. From that point on, our friendship flourished. Sadly, distance, work and happenings prevented more time together, but when we were together, I felt happiness and love from her. I will truly cherish my memories of a very special and beautiful woman.