Loretta Mae (Kibby) Johnson

Loretta M Johnson, age 89, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, November 21st, 2015 at Longview Nursing Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Loretta was born on the family farm in the Pisgah area on January 28, 1926 and attended Pisgah grade school until the 3rd grade. The family moved to Missouri Valley and she graduated from Missouri Valley High School in 1944. After school she worked in a jacket factory during WWII and as a waitress at the Sunnyside Café and Tamarack. She also worked at the Brandies Store in Omaha. She married Lester Oliver Johnson on October 1, 1947 and they had four children. Les died in 1966, and she was left with the four children to raise, so she returned to Iowa Western Community College and received her LPN nurses license in 1971. She worked as a nurse at the Blair Hospital for many years before she retired to take care of her mother. Loretta was baptized in 1953 at the RLDS Church in Missouri Valley. She volunteered as a Sunday school teacher and helped with the Women’s department. She was very devoted to her church, helping with many funerals, dinners, and other events. One of her favorite things was helping with the Little Christmas Store. She collected items for the event, baked cookies and helped the children pick out gifts for their families. Her one passion in life was collecting donkeys. She had a very large collection and she would give talks and show off some her favorite ones at various times. People would find unique donkeys and give her one for her collection. Her hobbies included making many crafts, sewing, embroidery, and traveling. She loved to go on trips with her family and friends. Her family has some interesting tales of some of the family trips that they took with her and other friends. Loretta was one of the first residents at the Kovar Court in Missouri Valley and lived there for over 20 years. Her sister, Thelma also moved into one of the apartments at the same time and they enjoyed their time together, doing many church events, day trips, and just looking out for each other. She was preceded in death by her mother, Minnie Squier and father, William Squier, husband Lester, her sister Thelma Duysen, son Curtis Johnson and daughter Rosemary Johnson and three infant children. She is survived by son, David and his wife Georgia Johnson of Missouri Valley, daughter Rowena and her husband Lowell Graham of Boone, Iowa; grandchildren Adam Johnson (Amber) of Missouri Valley, Tammy Towle of Ames, Iowa and Daniel Graham of Boone; Iowa four great grandchildren, Whitney Mikesell, Kyra Johnson, Wyatt Holmes and Ryder Graham. She is also survived by sister-in-law Lois Johnson, Alice (Fred) Kennedy, and brother-in-law Everett Johnson, as well as many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the Community of Christ Church in Missouri Valley, Iowa. IN LOVING MEMORY OF Loretta M. Johnson Born January 29, 1926 Pisgah, Iowa Entered Into Rest November 21, 2015 Missouri Valley, Iowa Funeral Services 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 28, 2015 Community of Christ Church Missouri Valley, Iowa Officiating Pastor Connie McWilliams Vocalist Rick Powell Organist Deb Stephens Music Selections “The Old Rugged Cross” “Old Old Path” Final Resting Place Rose Hill Memorial Garden Missouri Valley, Iowa “Bring me the colt of a donkey,” was the Master’s request. A young donkey was brought to Jesus to carry Him into Jerusalem. A week later Jesus was ordered crucified. The little donkey so loved the Lord that he wanted to help him carry the cross. But alas, he was pushed away. The sad little donkey waited to say goodbye until nearly all had left. As he turned to leave, the shadow of the cross fell upon his back and shoulders. And there it has remained a tribute to the loyalty and love of the humblest of God’s creatures.

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