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Lillian Dorine Johnson obituary, 1/6/07


Lillian Dorine Johnson, age 84, of Cokato, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007 at the Cokato Manor.
She was born April 10, 1922 in Cokato, at the Tapio home farm, the daughter of the late J. Alex and A. Mary (Autio) Tapio.
Lillian lived in the Cokato area all of her early years. She was baptized and confirmed in the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran faith.
During her lifetime, she lived also in Delano, St. Louis Park, Maple Lake, Montrose, and Waverly.
Lillian was married to Sidney Theodore Johnson April 17, 1941. They were married 46 years before his passing.
Lillian joined the North Crow River Lutheran Church after marriage, where she was active in WELCA and the church choir. She also served on other committees.
Lillian liked to be outdoors, milking cows by hand, cultivating corn, working in the garden, sharing garden produce with friends and relatives, and growing plants, as well as talking to them. She also liked baking, especially her favorite, sugar cookies; making strawberry rhubarb jam, and baking bread. She also enjoyed visiting with people, teasing, joking and razzing with one and all.
Along with working on the farm, Lillian also was employed at the canning factory, 3M, Gold Bond, Historical Society, cleaning houses, and packaging candy. She also especially enjoyed volunteer driving.
Lillian was better known as “Lilly Lou” or as “Diamond Lil” because she “shined like diamonds.”
Lillian is survived by her twin sons, Peter and John; and her daughter, Sharon (Jim) Bodeker; grandchildren, Shawn, Vanessa (Paul) Haekenkamp, Aaron, Carol, Laura, Kevin, Keri, Larry, Janet and Gary; great-grandchildren, Jesse, Valerie, Terell, Jonte, Rachel, Jessica, Radiance, and Wesley; sister, Lila Ryti; sister-in-law Beatrice Johnson; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney; her parents; and 12 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 1 p.m.at North Crow River Lutheran Church, rural Cokato, with the Rev. Michael Nelson officiating. Music was provided by Harvey Peterson and Vernette Heidenreich. Interment was in North Crow River Lutheran Cemetery.
Casket bearers were Jesse Johnson, Shawn Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Jerry Ebert, Paul Haekenkamp, Craig Heidenreich, and Otto Conzet.
Honorary bearers were Vanesse Haekenkamp, Valerie Haekenkamp, Vernette Heidenreich, Curtis Johnson, Byron Ryti, Marikay Ebert, and Sharon Rasmussen.
Visitation took place Tuesday, Jan. 9 from 4 to 8 p.m at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 6 p.m., and continued Wednesday for one hour, prior to the service at the church.
Arrangements were by the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato.

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