Margaret Claire Johnson was born May 25, 1917 in Bridgeport, CT, the daughter of Milton and Gertrude (Cullen) Reed. She graduated from Central High School in 1935 and went on to study nursing at Bridgeport State Hospital. There she met her husband, Dr. Vilhelm M. Johnson of Dawson, MN. They were united in marriage on February 16, 1941. To this union four children were born. Marge was an RN at Bridgeport Hospital from 1938-1940 and Clarkfield Hospital and University Hospital from 1940-1941. Marge lived in Dawson, where, in addition to being a homemaker, she worked for the Red Cross blood bank, belonged to the Hospital Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary, other service organizations and was also active in the First Presbyterian Church Aid. She wintered in Florida from 1976 until 1994 and had spent summers at her cabin on Lake Lida by Pelican Rapids for 48 years. After selling her home in Florida, she moved to Riverview Place in Fargo, ND until the time of her death, on Wednesday, January 13, 1999 at Dakota Heartland Hospital in Fargo, ND at the age of 81.
She is survived by four children: Kimble (Karen) Johnson of Louisville, KY, Marsha Krahn of Oakdale, MN, Reed (Lynn) Johnson of Glyndon, MN, and Todd (Rebecca) Johnson of Rochester, MN; seven grandchildren: Kirsti, Kaija, Amanda, Danielle, Kari, Josie, and Jonathan; one sister-in-law, Madge Reed of Strattford, CT; one brother-in-law, Elmer Sonnichsen of Madison, CT; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Dr. Vilhelm M. Johnson; two brothers: Robert Reed and Donald Reed; four sisters: Gertrude Kaiser, Mary Sonnichsen, Doris Spade, and Dorothy Ashcroft; one niece, Elaine Sonnichsen.
She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend.