Mary Johnson

Funeral Services for Mary L. Johnson, Albert Lea, former Hopkins, MN resident, will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Washburn- McReavy Funeral Chapel, 1400 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN. Interment will be in Faith Presbyterian Cemetery, Hopkins, MN. Visitation with be one hour before services at the funeral home on Saturday. Mary died peacefully on Monday, October 1, 2012 at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea, at the age of 99. She had moved to Albert Lea to be near son Don and his family. Mary Lucy was born on May 27, 1913, in Hopkins, Minnesota, the daughter of Joseph and Lizzie (Pulkrabek) Empanger. She attended Hopkins Schools and then completed training at beauty school. Mary married Selmer Johnson on July 3, 1937, in Hopkins. They made Hopkins their home. Throughout her life, Mary had owned her own beauty shop, worked at the Oak Ridge Country Club and also did catering. She had been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Faith Presbyterian Church. Mary enjoyed entertaining, embroidery, and antiquing. Her two trips to Czechoslovakia to experience her heritage left her with heartfelt memories. Mary is survived by her children: Deborah C. (James A.) Gessaman, Tucson, AZ, Don A. (Mary Ellen) Johnson, Albert Lea, MN, Susan M. Clayton, Colorado Springs, CO; grandchildren: Patrick K. Clifford, Parker, CO, Michael (Deana) Clifford, Woodland, CA, Carrie M. Clifford, Antioch, CA, Matthew B. Johnson, New York City, NY, Sarah K. Johnson, Atlanta, GA, Christopher P.(Laura) Koupal, Denver, CO, Ryan J. Koupal, Jamestown, CO, and Jessica A. Clayton, Berkeley, CA;
great-grandchildren: Brendon M. Clifford, Jordan P. Clifford, Marquis D. Clifford, Cameron D. Callicutt,
Charles J. Koupal, Jo Ellen Marie Koupal, Sam M. Koupal; step grandchildren: Jeff Gessaman, Fort Collins, CO, Elizabeth Gessaman, Phoenix, AZ, Janel Krull, Logan, UT, and their families; nephews: Dean Empanger of Hopkins, MN, Dale Johnson of Nashville, TN and Keith L. Johnson, Livingston, NJ. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Selmer in 1989, her great- granddaughter Chalita E.R. Clifford, her sisters Evelyn and Adeline Empanger, and brothers Lumies and Joseph Empanger.