Carolyn Mary (Larson) Johnson

Carolyn Johnson of Ham Lake passed away peacefully October 6, 2023, just shy of her 97th birthday with her family by her side.
Carolyn was born the oldest of eight children on November 4,1926 to Gustave and Elsie Larson in Bradford township. She was busy at a young age helping her
father feed and milk cows and plant the family garden. Her mother taught her how to cook over a wood stove, bake bread, and can fruits and vegetables for the
winter months. She assisted her mother to feed the men that helped plant the fields. Carolyn was also a very loving mother to her younger brothers and sisters.
Carolyn married the love of her life, Oliver Johnson, on April 2, 1949. Together they ran a full-service gas station with a mechanical shop attached in Fridley and
eventually a body shop in Blaine. Oliver and Carolyn built three homes over the years, the last being on Oliver’s homestead property in Ham Lake. They were
married 41 years before Oliver’s passing in 1990. Oliver and Carolyn loved to travel with their family, which continued abroad after the family had grown.
After Oliver’s passing, Carolyn traveled extensively visiting Alaska, China, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and
India. Carolyn even went on an African safari, where their group slept in a large tent surrounded by scary sounding wildlife.
Carolyn and her family were the original members of Oak Haven Church. She was active in their quilter’s group for 43 years, distributing gorgeous quilts to the
homeless, woman’s and children’s shelters, nurses’ association, and the terminally ill.
Carolyn loved her family deeply, hosting them often with her excellent cooking and baking abilities. She always greeted everyone with her wonderful smile, was
extremely ambitious, very compassionate, always had a positive attitude and was eternally optimistic. She was loved by all that knew her. Above all, Carolyn had a
strong Christian faith at the center of all she did, sharing her faith with her family and friends.
Carolyn led a rich, happy life, especially in her later years through the generous care and loving attention of her granddaughter Randi, who lived next door, and
her closest friend, daughter Trudy. Despite the hardships of aging as the end grew near, she bravely fought on and finished well.

Carolyn meant the world to her family and friends.  Although Heaven’s gain has left an enormous hole here on earth, she was recruited to be an angel free of pain and disease.  We love you Carolyn and you will always be in our hearts.

Our Beloved Carolyn was welcomed into heaven into join God, husband Oliver, sons Ronald, Allan, and Wayne, son-in-law Brent, grandson Jacob, great grandson Eli, parents Gustave and Elsie, sisters Marilyn Reineccius and Ruth Magnuson, brothers Melvin, Maynard, Robert and John Larson as well as special friend Bob Nelson.

Carolyn is survived by her daughter Trudy Lee, brother Wesley (Wanda) Larson, grandchildren Pam Rydh, Nicole (Ken) Hart, Amy Johnson (Alex), Randi Long and Adam (Jennifer) Johnson as well as many great grandchildren, relatives and dear friends.

Funeral Services 11AM, Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at Oak Haven Church, 1555 Constance Blvd NW, Ham Lake.  Visitation one hour prior to the service.  Interment in Nicholas Cemetery.

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