Mona Rae Johnson, age 62, peacefully passed on to her heavenly home, while surrounded by family at her home near Upsala on April 5th, 2024. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Community Covenant Church in Upsala, MN, with Pastor Steve Weihsmann officiating. Interment will be at the Community Covenant Cemetery in Upsala. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM on Friday and 10 to 11 AM on Saturday at the church. Caring for Mona and her family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN.
Mona was born on January 26, 1962 in Minneapolis to Lloyd and Eleanor Johnson. Mona graduated from South West Minneapolis High School in 1980. She was united in marriage to Philip Johnson on June 28, 1980 in Upsala. Together they raised six children on their dairy farm in Upsala. Mona loved being a stay-at-home mother to her three sons and three daughters, her very own “Brady Bunch.” Her home was always open to the friends of the Johnson kids too. Mona loved her hobby farm consisting of chickens, ducks, geese and goats. She adored her dogs, Wolfie and Phoebe. Mona stayed busy feeding the dairy calves along with other chores she inherited after the children left the nest. In her spare time, Mona enjoyed gardening, baking, antiquing, and decorating her beautiful farmhouse. Mona was an active member of Community Covenant Church in Upsala. She helped with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, nursery, and Ladies Aide. Mona and Phil enjoyed retirement in their dream home, which Mona designed and decorated near Upsala. Mona was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in January 2024. Mona lived her final months on earth with grace and dignity, spending time with close friends, family, and her nine beloved grandchildren. She continued to serve and trust in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior until God called her home.
Mona is survived by her husband, Philip Johnson of Upsala; son, Zachary (Sara) & children, Evan and Jacob Johnson of Plymouth; daughter, Alison (Jeremy) & children, Joshua, Noah and Luke Glaser of Maple Grove; son, Josiah (Jamie) & children, Laura and Logan Johnson of St. Cloud; daughter, Jessica (Jason) & children, Austin and Audrey Porteous of Scandia; daughter, Amber Johnson of Sunburg; son, Jedidiah Johnson of Fergus Falls; mother, Eleanor Johnson of Upsala; brother, Steven Johnson of Iowa City; and brother, Stuart (Ingrid) Johnson of Upsala.
Mona was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Johnson; grandparents, Bernard and Mabel Stenholm and Otto and Ethel Johnson.