Mildred Iolanda Johnson was born to J. Miller Johnson and Ida Bette Nelson on February 16, 1914 in Pope County. She was baptized at East Zion church, attended public school in Benson, Minnesota and graduated in 1933. She was confirmed as a teenager at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Benson. Mildred married Lewis J. Johnson on June 16th of 1933 and produced two children from that union, Carol Jean and Gordon Lewis. She lived and worked in Benson at the J. S. Lee store for many years until moving to Compton, California in 1949 where she worked for J. C. Penneys and then finally for the State Department of Employment. She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Long Beach, California where she was sang in the church choir, often performing solos during the special seasons of the year, most notably Easter and Christmas. Her husband Lewis died in 1974 and she remained unmarried for nearly ten years before marrying a family friend, Maynard Meader in 1984. They spent three years together before his passing. From then on she has lived mostly with her daughter, Carol Wyatt, in Benson. She was the happiest spending time with family and friends getting together for camping, fishing, picnics, Scrabble and playing cards. In her later years her favorite card game was most definitely Pinochle and she recruited her daughter, grand daughter, niece, and/or sister in-law to play as often as possible. Mildred is preceded in death by her husbands, Lewis J. Johnson and Maynard Meader, her son Gordon, two brothers, Kurtel and Ornel, one sister, Gladys Svingen, and her parents. She leaves behind her daughter, Carol Wyatt of Benson, many grand children, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Her memorial service will be held on Friday, April 9th at 10:30 a.m. at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson. A luncheon will follow the service in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers please send any gifts to Our Redeemer's Church, 800 10th St. South, Benson, Minnesota, 56215 to support their building fund.