Evelyn Eleanor Johnson

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The funeral service for Evelyn Johnson, 87, of Balaton, will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 10, 2021, at Grace First Parish Church in Russell. Visitation will be Sunday, May 9, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Balaton. Visitation will continue from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Monday at Grace First Parish Church. Interment will follow the service at Lakeside Cemetery in Balaton. Masks are required at all indoor events.

Evelyn Eleanor (Sabinske) Johnson was born on December 7, 1933, in Tracy, MN, to William and Esther (Gentz) Sabinske. She grew up on the family farm near Garvin and graduated from Tracy High School. Evelyn worked for a time as a telephone operator in Tracy. On May 24, 1956, she was united in marriage to Dale Johnson at Grace Lutheran Church in Russell. The couple farmed and raised their family near Balaton. The farm became a century farm in 2012. Evelyn enjoyed being a farmer. She looked forward to planting and harvesting every year. Even after she retired, she made sure to check the fields and kept a close eye on the crops. Evelyn also enjoyed continuing to help on the farm including driving the grain cart until she was 85 years old. She enjoyed making special homemade gifts for her loved ones, crocheted high school graduation blankets, sewed baby blankets for all the babies in the family, and embroidered dish towels as wedding gifts. Evelyn also enjoyed polka and waltz dancing. She and her husband would go dancing every chance they got. She loved watching sports and the game show network. Evelyn was a savvy card player and could be counted on to win most of the time. You could not find a puzzle she couldn’t put together. Evelyn spent hours bird watching out her front window. In her later years, she took up fishing and went up north every summer to fish on Lake Osakis. She will be remembered for baking the best homemade bread. Although she never felt the bread was perfect, her family knew otherwise. It was always requested when anyone came to visit her. She enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Evelyn was a faithful servant of God and attend church regularly. Evelyn led by example and showed us all how to live a full authentic life. She raised a kind and caring family full of love and supportiveness. Her legacy will live on forever.

Evelyn died on Sunday, May 2, 2021, at the Prairie Home McLaughlin House in Marshall. She is survived by her children Neva (and Terry) Parris of Morgan, Pam (and Bobby) Wendland of New Ulm, Barb (and Mark) Swenson of Balaton, Linda Johnson (and Aaron Voth) of New Ulm, Ray (and Linda) Johnson of Clear Lake, WI, Clifford (and Laurie) Johnson of Balaton, 22 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, sisters Arlene Bierbaum and Shirley (and George) Nuy, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dale, son Arnie, grandson James, brothers Marvin and Butch and brother-in-law Vic.

In lieu of flowers: memorials are preferred to Prairie Home Hospice.