Amy Jean Johnson

Amy J. Johnson, 88, of Barnesville, MN died Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at her daughter's home under the care of her children and Hospice of the Red River Valley. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 26, 2014, in Baker-Downer Westminster Presbyterian Church, Baker, MN with Pastor Lorelee Benz officiating. Burial will follow in Elkton Cemetery, rural Barnesville. ** For those traveling from out of town, please be aware that Highway 52 is closed between Barnesville and Baker. There are detour signs that direct you around and back to Highway 52 to get to Baker. Please plan a few extra minutes in your travel. ** Visitation will be Friday from 5-8 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville and will continue one hour prior to the funeral service. Amy Jean Cook was born on January 2, 1926 in her grandmother's home in Downer, MN to Charles and Elohema (McColgin) Cook. She graduated in 1944 from Barnesville High School. She met her future husband, John O Johnson, while he was working on the elevators in Downer. They were married on June 20, 1947. They began their lives together in Clifford, ND and later moved to Downer living in a house made of two train refrigerator cars. They eventually established residence and raised their family in the home her grandparents built. After John retired from carpentry, he and Amy Jean grew a bountiful garden and sold the produce for many years. In addition to raising and caring for five children, they later opened their home to foster children. After her children were older, Amy Jean worked in the food service department at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, ND for 18 years. In 2002 she moved to an apartment in Barnesville, where she began volunteering with the HELPERS program. She was also a member of the Rebecca Lodge, Downer and later Baker Downer Presbyterian Church, the United Presbyterian Woman (UPW), and a lifetime member of VFW Auxiliary. Amy Jean is survived by five children: Sandra (Terry) Ystenes of Barnesville, Alan (Laura) Johnson of Glyndon, Roger (Pamela) of Breckenridge, Stacia (Mark) Erdmann of Moorhead, Patricia (Mark) Cox, of Barnesville, 12 grandchildren: Dana (Maria) Willits, Dean (Mikka) Willits, Tony (Lacie) Johnson, Katharine (Dr. Michael) White, Nicole (Dr. Darren) Fick, Jami (Dr. Eric) Deal, Kristin Erdmann, Erik Erdmann, Jarrod (Rochelle) Erdmann, Douglas (Amanda) Cox, Michael Cox, Gina Cox, 19 great grandchildren, sister Grace Heitzman of Gilbert, MN, two brother Kenneth (Janice) Cook of Moorhead, Curtis (Dorothy) Cook of Baker, MN. Amy Jean was preceded in death by her husband John in 1994; her parents; brothers, Walt Cook and Duane Cook; and a great grandson, Jace Johnson.