Winnie Rodell Johnson, age 90 passed away on 12 August 2024. This wonderful daughter of God, preferred to be called Rodell as her mother’s name was Winnie. She was born on 21 Feb 1934, in Douglas, Cochise, Arizona to Winnie Haynie and Hyrum Knud Mortensen. Born of Pioneer Heritage and raised in an Arizona Culture. She was the 3rd of seven children, five brothers and one sister. At preschool age she began her first University studies at University of Arizona Training School in Tucson. Her parents were both Educators.
She received her Primary level education at Douglas, and Pomerene, as an accelerated student. Her middle school years were in El-Frida and High-school at Thatcher, graduating at age 17. As a youth she enjoyed teaching dancing with her mother. In 1951 she contracted Abortive Polio. She graduated from El-Paso, Texas Western College of Mines and Engineering, with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1956. She also took classes at U of Arizona, and BYU. She taught music in El-Paso Elementary Schools before serving an LDS Mission in New Zealand. She totes the privilege of prepping the New Zealand Temple floors the evening before its dedication. Following her Mission she taught 2nd grade at Ysleta, in El-Paso. She spent the summer at Utah State University. She decided to go into Nursing and enrolled in the Utah Weber College 2-year Pilot program.
That is when she met her Husband DeLoy F. Johnson. She totes that there she got her RN when she got her MRS. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on the 1st of September 1961. Her teaching career then followed her husband’s career assignments. She taught school at Washington Elementary in Ogden, then three different Schools in Granit School District. She was a substitute Teacher in Burley Idaho while her husband was Director of the Minidoka Hospital, where she gave many volunteer hours. From 1968-77 she followed her husband in his Air Force Career as a wife, and mother of 3 daughters and one son. While her husband was serving in Vietnam, she taught Elementary school in Palmdale, California. Her husband’s career then took them to S. Dakota, N. Carolina, and Florida, always volunteering and singing with the Blue Bird wives.
Leaving the Air Force they moved to Hyrum, Utah where she became a Substitute teacher and was a Red Cross Volunteer Instructor. Her husband’s career then took them to Germany for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, where she was a member of the Officers wives Club, a Community Volunteer, Red Cross Instructor, a Substitute teacher, and many times assisted in the Nursing office for her husband. She introduced her husband to the German Volksmarching program and participated herself. In the LDS Church, she has served in the Junior Sunday School, Young Women's program, Primary & Primary Presidency, Stake Primary Presidency, several calling in the Relief Society, a Branch Relief Society President, singing with Singing Mothers, a Pianist, Chorister, Choir Director, a Dance Director with her husband, and singing in choirs for Dedication of Logan Temple, Frankfurt Temple, and Switzerland Temple.
Her most enjoyed experiences were the 14 years as Temple Officiator in Germany and 4 years in the Logan Temple. In the community she has been awarded 30 years with the Red Cross, Many recognitions for service to the Military. She has sung in several Music Clubs to include Ladies Barbershop, and the German American Choir under Craig Jessup.
Her children are Jeni-Lei, JaNaa Lisca, Joi-LaRiha, and John Leopold, followed with 8 grandchildren, plus 3 adopted and many fostered; 5 great grandchildren. All of which have known her as Oma. She is survived by these children, her husband, a Brother J-Ross Mortensen, and a sister Mary-L Alger.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 30th at 11:00 am in Lundstrom Park 1st Ward Chapel, 1260 North 1600 East.. There will be a viewing Thursday Evening from 6-8 pm at Allen-Hall Mortuary. There will be a viewing held at the church 1 hour prior to the funeral service. Interment will be at the Logan City Cemetery.
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