Mildred Lorraine Johnson

MILDRED LORRIANE JOHNSON Mildred Lorraine Johnson, 90, passed away December 3, 2011 at the Valley Inn in Mancos, Colo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Johnson, in April 2011. Millie was born in Yuma, Colo. on January 11, 1921 to John and Catherine (Heise) Strong. She grew up on the family farm with her younger sister, Aileen Mekelburg of Greeley, CO, and her older brother, Roland Thayer, who preceded her in death in 1990. She graduated from Yuma High School in 1939 and then moved with her family to Denver in 1941. She married Lloyd M. Rhoads August 15, 1942 at Camp Roberts in California. They had two children, Janice and Russell, and were later divorced. After attending Barnes Business College, Millie worked as a secretary at Gates Rubber Company in the Industrial Hose Dept. She married Joe Johnson, who also worked in sales in the same department. They celebrated 57 years of marriage. After retiring from Gates in 1963, she studied graphonalysis and was a partner in the company, Confidential Analysts. She was president of the Colo. chapter of I.G.A.S. from 1971 to 1973. She enjoyed being a grandmother to Angela and Chris, flower gardening, traveling to visit relatives, corresponding with her beautiful handwriting. She was an excellent cook and seamstress, making many of her own clothes. She and Joe moved to Mancos in 1993 and continued their hobbies of flower and vegetable gardening, feeding hummingbirds, keeping in touch with friends and relatives. Millie is survived by her sister, Aileen Mekelburg of Greeley, Colo.; her daughter, Janice (Al) Brown of Durango, Colo.; her son, Russ (Barbara) Rhoads of Denver, Colo.; her grandson, Chris (Ari) Rhoads of Centennial, Colo.; her granddaughter, Angela (Mark) Grant of Glenrock, Wyo.; three great grandchildren, Darien Rhoads, Kayla and Austin Grant; a niece, Kathy Agnew; and three nephews, Dennis, Daryl, and Larry Mekelburg.