A. Leola Johnson

Alice Leola Johnson, of Richfield, passed away on April 13, 2024 at age 94. She is survived by her husband, Quentin; daughters, Lisa (Darrell), Roberta (Dale), and LeAnn (John); grandchildren, Ben, Jordan, Tyler, Andrew and Michael; many relatives and friends. She is predeceased by son. Grant and daughter, Becky.

Leola was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and moved to Columbia Heights, MN at an early age. She attended Columbia Heights high school, where she participated in choir, and played trombone in band. After high school graduation she attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN, graduating in 1951. Leola majored in Biology, minored in Music, sang in the Augsburg choir, and continued to play in the band. She met Quentin during her junior year at Augsburg. In 1951 she began her teaching career at Clinton, MN, and later taught in Lyle, MN. She and Quentin were married during Christmas break in 1953. Leola then returned to Lyle to teach for the remainder of the school term, while Quentin worked at the Ford Plant in Minneapolis. Leola traveled to Minneapolis by bus each weekend until she joined Quentin in Minneapolis in the summer of 1953.

The following years were filled with children and all their activities. Leola was a dedicated wife and mother, who made sure her children always had a good breakfast, even if they finished it on the way out the door to catch the bus. She very much enjoyed sewing for her family, and made many clothes and costumes during the children’s years at home. She made countless hotdishes and Sunday roasts, as well as delicious cinnamon rolls and chocolate cake. Her other culinary specialties were Valentine’s Day candy, kringlar, and colorful, multilayered “Joseph jello”.

In addition to being a mom, Leola expressed her love of music, and her desire to serve God by directing several church choirs. She directed the senior choir at St. Paul’s Lutheran church and also at Emmaus Lutheran Church. The Emmaus choir members and congregation particularly enjoyed the cantatas that were presented during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Her most enjoyable musical contribution at Emmaus was directing the “Hymn Singers”, who sang traditional hymns as special music during morning services.

Leola also continued to enjoy teaching. She returned to school at the College of St. Thomas in the late 1970s, and completed a Master’s degree in Special Education in 1980. She taught Special Ed in elementary school and high school in the Richfield public schools until her retirement in 1991.

Leola and Quent enjoyed traveling and visiting family during retirement. They particularly enjoyed their trips to Israel and Norway. They also enjoyed time with their five grandchildren. Leola loved to read, sometimes confessing that she had stayed up until 2 a.m. in order to finish a book. She also maintained a bevy of plants that responded to her care, when no one else could seem to help them to grow.

She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.