Dorothy J Johnson

Long time educator Dorothy Jane Johnson of Raynesford passed away at Peace Hospice in Great Falls on February 14, 2015. She lived with cancer for 19 years, and is finally at peace. Dorothy was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Raynesford. Vigil services will be held on Monday, February 16, 2015 at 7:00 p.m, at St. Marks Catholic Church in Belt. Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Marks Catholic Church with interment following the service at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls. Dorothy was born on July 2, 1943 in Great Falls, MT. She was the oldest of 8 children born to Anton and Mary Ann (Hart) Johnson of Raynesford. Dorothy attended grade school in Raynesford and Belt. She graduated as valedictorian of the 1961 Belt Valley High School class. She continued on to get her Bachelor’s degree from Montana State College in 1965. She also attended St. Benedict’s, a catholic college in MN, and the University of Texas in Austin. Dorothy returned to Montana State University, receiving a Master’s degree in counseling in 1972. She joined the newly formed Peace Corps in 1965, training in Arizona. Beginning her lifetime of service to the world and her community, she was sent to the small town of Barbacena in Brazil. She served 2 years and volunteered to stay for a third year. She taught home economics, Spanish classes, and was a guidance counselor for over 40 years. She taught in Denton, Brockton, Chester, Joplin-Inverness, Ekalaka, Highwood, and Geyser. While in Brazil, she taught English and home economics. Teaching was her way of life, and her students’ success was one of her greatest joys. She taught CCD at St. Marks in Belt until recently. Dorothy’s philosophy in life was so caring and sincere as to other people’s needs. Her commitment to her faith and the catholic religion was unwavering to the end. Dorothy enjoyed traveling and took some of her Spanish students to Mexico and Spain. She went to Texas numerous times to visit family. A trip to the Holy Land fulfilled a lifelong dream of hers. Dorothy built a house in 1978, where her grandfather Anton Johnson Sr. homesteaded in 1889, and lived there every summer. She enjoyed gardening and taking care of chickens and turkeys. She loved taking horseback rides up through the cows. She owned cattle her whole adult life. Her nieces and nephews were frequent guests, enjoying one-on-one time with their aunt. She is survived by her brothers and sisters. Walt (Vicki) Johnson of Raynesford, Cathy (Charley) Becker of Geyser, Peggy (Bill) Strobbe of Cascade, Patty (Zack) Wirth of Wolf Creek, Betty (Steve) Hedstrom of Raynesford, Maureen (Bob) Schmitt of Chinook, and David (Donna) Johnson of Raynesford. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Mary Ann Johnson. Her nieces and nephews were very close to her. Ben Johnson, J.J. Meissner, Becky Anseth, Lisa Jassen, Brenda Craig, Heather Perry, Holly Gliko, Jill Gliko. Powell Becker, Jessie Klingler, Margie Boumans, Mindie Strobbe, Chet Strobbe, Laura Toeckes, Paul Wirth, Dan Wirth, Alicia Pattengale, Maria Anderson, Anna Wirth, Stacy Bateson, Travis Hedstrom, Karen Long, Kellie Hadnot, Casey Schmitt, Lane Schmitt, Scott Schmitt, Haden Johnson, and Dillon Johnson. She is also survived by 42 great nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to: St Mary’s in Raynesford or Peace Hospice in Great Falls.