Evelyn “Red” Johnson

Evelyn “Red” Ruth Johnson, 93, of International Falls, Minn., passed away on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015 at Rainy Lake Medical Center in International Falls.

A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, Dec. 11, with visitation one hour prior to the 2 p.m. service at Green-Larsen Mortuary.

Evelyn “Red” to her brothers, sisters and closest friends, was born on Sept. 27, 1922, in Clear Lake, to Phillip and Eva Bieber. She married Rudolph “Rudy” Johnson of Britt, Iowa, on Sept. 29, 1941. They raised two sons, David (Judith), of Grand Rapids, Minn., and Michael (Carolyn), of Chanhassen, Minn. She had four grandchildren; Douglas, of Roanoke, Va., Stephanie (Tom) Beaudry, of Cook, Minn., Sharon (Steve) Pennock, of Golden Valley, and Gary (Jennifer) Johnson, of Cologne, Minn.; nine great-grandchildren, Graceanna and Murphy Johnson, Kate and Claire Beaudry, Anna and Zach Pennock, and Hunter, Cody, and Katie Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Eva; her husband, Rudy; brothers, Kenneth, Philip, Garfield; sister, Marion Hankenson; and half-siblings, Don Kundert and (Josey Kundert) Peterson.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; a brother, Rae (Connie) Bieber, of Clear Lake; sisters, Jeanne Hugh, of Clear Lake, and Mildred McNally, of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Two of her most precious friends, Heather Kuryla and Charlotte Ruelle, of International Falls, were so important to her. She depended on them so much and was so appreciative of their help after Rudy died.

In 1957, Rudy and Evelyn bought Sha Sha Resort in International Falls. They operated the resort for 19 years making many lifelong friends. Evelyn oversaw the resort operations involving cabin housekeeping and reservations as well as keeping the lodge and dining facility humming.

In 1976, they sold the resort so that they could spend more summers together fishing, boating on the lake, picking wild blueberries and mushrooms, gardening and spending time enjoying their son’s families and grandchildren. They spent portions of 20 winters outside of Tucson, Az. They pulled their travel trailer, seeing various parts of the country.

Evelyn was the President of the VFW Auxiliary in Britt in 1955-1956. She made cross-stitch works of art, afghans for all her grandchildren and great-children as well as other craft items for friends. Later in life macular degeneration wouldn’t let her do those things she loved so much.

She was a devoted daughter, sister, a loving wife and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be missed by her family and friends.

We will never know all about Evelyn, but our memories and stories about her will live on in us. Sharing them with one another will keep her in our hearts.