Ethel B. Johnson

Ethel B. Johnson, age 97, of Lancaster, formerly of North Dakota, died on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at Orchard Manor Nursing Home.

  Ethelyn LeoLa Barnes was born in Oakes, North Dakota on December 6, 1915 on her mothers 32^nd birthday. Her mothers name was Ethelyn. Because she was named for her mother, she grew up being called Little Ethel. There is some irony here because Little Ethel was a 12-pound baby. Little Ethel had two older sisters named Kathie and Alice. They were 10 and 12 years older than she. She had a younger brother named Johnny. Her father was a man of all trades. He farmed, raised cattle and owned several businesses. He was a US Marshal who met Calamity Jane and rode posse with Frank James (Jesses good brother). Ethel graduated from Oakes High School when she was 16 years old. Her older sisters often were sent by their mother to watch over Ethel, even if she were attending a dance or school function. There were horror stories about Kathie and Alice hiding in the bushes just keeping an eye on Little Ethel. Her mother wanted her to wait for her brother, Johnny, to graduate from high school, so the two children could both go to college together at the State Teachers College in Ellendale, North Dakota. After college graduation Ethel took her first teaching job in a one-room schoolhouse in Brampton, North Dakota. She taught first through eighth grades. Because it was a country school, she lived with a farm family during the week and then returned home each weekend, weather permitting, often by horse and sleigh. In that one room schoolhouse she taught ten little Finnish children how to read. They did not speak one word of English, and there were state examinations, which needed to be taken each year before a student could graduate to the next grade level. Miss Barnes responsibilities included chopping wood, cooking lunch everyday on the wood stove for the students, cutting their hair, giving them a bath if needed, preparing lessons and correcting papers for 8 different grade levels, and passing those state examinations.

Ethel Barnes met Clifford Johnson when he moved to Oakes, North Dakota and took a job as the new high school Chemistry and Physics teacher. He had grown up on a farm in Milnor, North Dakota. After Pearl Harbor Clifford joined the US Navy, and the two of them began their married life together. The Johnsons loved to dance to the big bands of the 1940s. Ethel had a beautiful singing voice and often joined in with the band to sing a number or two. She was frequently called upon to sing at weddings.

When Clifford got out of the Navy he got a teaching job at Wisconsin State College in Platteville, now known as UW-P. Ethel was the 17^th faculty wife. She was very active in the Faculty Wives and started several bridge clubs. She loved to play cards and was very accomplished. She taught bridge classes at UW-P and often played Tournament Bridge. Ethel hails from an English and Irish card-playing family. Most holidays involved some kind of card game. Clifford did not share her enthusiasm for cards. Most summers were spent camping with a pop-up teepee trailer. Clifford loved campingEthel went along with it.

 Ethel was a typical 1950s mom with many similarities to Lucille Ball, but not quite as goofy. She was always up to something. She was tall and thin and very pretty. Gert Olson lived next door, and she was definitely Ethel Mertz. Those two women shared their joys togethereven a backyard swimming pool. In fact all of the Siemers Street ladies were good friends and their children were all good friends. Ethel was an excellent cook and could sew anything. She made dozens of Barbie outfits, which included matching hats and handbags. One Christmas, she made 12 pairs of flannel pajamas for the female family members. They all fit. Ethel rarely used a pattern; she had a good eye. She could prepare a meal for 12 people without even going to the grocery store. She oftentimes had her bridge friends in for lunch and supper on the same day. She was also very artistic. She once chaired a Chinese New Years Ball and made a 25-foot-long dragon out of papier mache. She also was a very active member of the Platteville Garden Club. She had a flower border that was the envy of many. Her beautiful roses, irises and gladiolas were legendary, and the way she could arrange them won prizes.

 She created beautiful jeweled Christmas tree ornaments, painted pictures, sculpted candles, and even made plaques out of record albums. She loved to decorate for the holidays. She always hosted an annual Christmas open house with dozens of varieties of homemade cookies and candy. The time and care that she put into these cookies and candies were memorable. She could change a tire, weld, quilt, crochet, tat and knit. No job was too big for her to tackle. She was a substitute teacher and was ready at a moments notice to report to whatever Platteville elementary school needed her for the day. Ethel joined PEO in 1958. She held several offices.

Clifford retired in 1974, and they moved back to Oakes, North Dakota. Ethel enjoyed several trips to Europe in her retirement years and joined her son, Steven, on several Mexican adventures in San Miguel and her daughter, Carol, on Waikiki Beach and the Rain Forest of Costa Rica. After her husband died, and her brother and sisters were gone, Ethel moved to Lancaster to be near her grandchildren. Ethel was a great mom, and she was an even better grandmother. Her grandchildren loved to go to her house everyday to share with her everything they had accomplished. Granny loved to spin a yarn. She not only read to her grandchildren, she created original stories with unique characters for each child. She also was a great listener. Their Granny was a daily part of their lives. She taught them how to cook and bake, taught them how to knit and sew, and she even taught them how to play poker. She had been a resident of Orchard Manor for the last seven years. After her son died in 2004, Granny was never quite the same. Her memory faded, but the sight of her grandchildren continued to bring a sparkle to her eyes.

Ethel Johnson is survived by her daughter, Carol (Emmett) Terwilliger, Lancaster, WI and grandchildren: Andrew Terwilliger, Taipei, Taiwan; Molly Ann Terwilliger, Atlanta, GA; Erik Johnson, Sarasota, FL; Abigail Ethelyn Johnson, Sarasota, FL; and great grandchild, Farah Ann Strub, Sarasota, FL.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Johnson; her son, Steven Johnson; her sisters, Kathryn Kane and Alice PicKell; and brother, John Barnes.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Lancaster is serving the family.

 Ethels family would like to extend a special thank you to Orchard Manor and especially Chris Moll, whose kindness and loving support made Ethels nursing home life so much happier. Thanks also go to Mohave and Sahara.