Dorothy Eleanor Johnson was born April 14, 1930 in the family farmhouse near Dallas City, Illinois and died in the same farmhouse November 19, 2023. She was one of 8 children born to Paul and Grace Markey. Her siblings Lester, Leon, Frank, John, Tony, and Mary preceded her in death, and her sister Katherine survives. She loved learning and excelled in the local public schools she attended. Dorothy went on to study at Western Illinois State College, received her teaching certificate, and taught 4 years in rural Illinois schoolhouses. Her school teaching career ended when God started sending her children.
She met James R. Johnson (Jim), at a square dance near Dallas City. They were married on February 7, 1953 at Immaculate Conception Church in Carthage, Illinois. Jim became a Catholic shortly after their marriage as a surprise 'gift' to his new bride. Jim died July 30, 2009, with Dorothy at his bedside. Dorothy attended Sacred Heart Church in Dallas City her entire life with her family. They had ten children; two died at birth; the remaining 8 survived and had children of their own. She likes to refer to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as her 'treasures'.
Dorothy's children and grandchildren:
James (Liz) Johnson and children James M., Patrick, Paul, Timothy, and Jenny (deceased); Paul (Deb) Johnson and children Beth and Nora; David (Patricia) Johnson and children Heidi, Amy, Colleen, and Holly; Annetta (Dave) Tevis and children Ian and Michael; Robert (Lori) Johnson and children Megan, Hannah, and Ryan; Carol (Jim) Barnett and children Sister Gemma (Ashley), Grace, Katey, Daniel, and Samantha (deceased); Patricia (Jim) Cuffe and children Courtney, Grant, and Emily; Andrew (Becky) Johnson and children Tom, David, and Ellie
Dorothy's great grandchildren:
Abbey and Kate Van Middlesworth, Lena and Jonah Taylor, Rayna Tevis, Cora and Nathaniel Tevis, Owen, Addie, and Harper Brewer, Emma and Henry Mueller, Lauren Chalmers, and Jake Seymoure, Benjamin Bingham, Genevieve Johnson, many nieces, nephews, and step grandchildren.
It would have been more than enough work to be a farm wife and mother of 8, but Dorothy did not limit her love to her family. She taught the Catholic faith to other children, served on the Altar and Rosary Society, was a lector at Sacred Heart and served on the Durham election board. She performed many spiritual and corporal works of mercy including sending many letters of encouragement to those who needed them. She was not shy about entering into thorny issues with words given to her by the Holy Spirit. Many will miss those letters.
Jim, Dorothy, and their sons spent much time caring for the Gittings Mound Cemetery, her final resting place. After her sons left home, Dorothy continued to mow the cemetery by herself until Jim retired in 1990. Today her son David, and nephew Wayne Garrison continue the tradition. After Jim's retirement, Dorothy and Jim were able to garden together, visit their children and grandchildren, make many wooden pieces of furniture from oak grown on the farm, and fish the creek and Mississippi River. They especially enjoyed a few trips to Mobridge, South Dakota to fish for walleye in Lake Oahe with their 5 sons.
Dorothy's children gathered at her bedside at the end of her life. She did not ask them to come, but her life called them to be there for over a week to pray, recount favorite family stories, be quiet together, and enjoy communion in the spirit of Christ. Her granddaughter, Sister Gemma, said it was 'like her children made a week long retreat in grandma's room'. Dorothy was an amazing woman whose physical presence will be missed. However, those who know her are certain that her prayers will be even more effective now.
A Rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2023 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City followed by a visitation with the family until 5:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 27, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dallas City with Fr. Tony Trosley as celebrant. Burial will follow at Gittings Mound Cemetery, rural Dallas City.
A memorial fund has been established for Gittings Mound Cemetery or the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit Dorothy's obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Obituary from Banks and Beal Funeral Home
She met James R. Johnson (Jim), at a square dance near Dallas City. They were married on February 7, 1953 at Immaculate Conception Church in Carthage, Illinois. Jim became a Catholic shortly after their marriage as a surprise 'gift' to his new bride. Jim died July 30, 2009, with Dorothy at his bedside. Dorothy attended Sacred Heart Church in Dallas City her entire life with her family. They had ten children; two died at birth; the remaining 8 survived and had children of their own. She likes to refer to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as her 'treasures'.
Dorothy's children and grandchildren:
James (Liz) Johnson and children James M., Patrick, Paul, Timothy, and Jenny (deceased); Paul (Deb) Johnson and children Beth and Nora; David (Patricia) Johnson and children Heidi, Amy, Colleen, and Holly; Annetta (Dave) Tevis and children Ian and Michael; Robert (Lori) Johnson and children Megan, Hannah, and Ryan; Carol (Jim) Barnett and children Sister Gemma (Ashley), Grace, Katey, Daniel, and Samantha (deceased); Patricia (Jim) Cuffe and children Courtney, Grant, and Emily; Andrew (Becky) Johnson and children Tom, David, and Ellie
Dorothy's great grandchildren:
Abbey and Kate Van Middlesworth, Lena and Jonah Taylor, Rayna Tevis, Cora and Nathaniel Tevis, Owen, Addie, and Harper Brewer, Emma and Henry Mueller, Lauren Chalmers, and Jake Seymoure, Benjamin Bingham, Genevieve Johnson, many nieces, nephews, and step grandchildren.
It would have been more than enough work to be a farm wife and mother of 8, but Dorothy did not limit her love to her family. She taught the Catholic faith to other children, served on the Altar and Rosary Society, was a lector at Sacred Heart and served on the Durham election board. She performed many spiritual and corporal works of mercy including sending many letters of encouragement to those who needed them. She was not shy about entering into thorny issues with words given to her by the Holy Spirit. Many will miss those letters.
Jim, Dorothy, and their sons spent much time caring for the Gittings Mound Cemetery, her final resting place. After her sons left home, Dorothy continued to mow the cemetery by herself until Jim retired in 1990. Today her son David, and nephew Wayne Garrison continue the tradition. After Jim's retirement, Dorothy and Jim were able to garden together, visit their children and grandchildren, make many wooden pieces of furniture from oak grown on the farm, and fish the creek and Mississippi River. They especially enjoyed a few trips to Mobridge, South Dakota to fish for walleye in Lake Oahe with their 5 sons.
Dorothy's children gathered at her bedside at the end of her life. She did not ask them to come, but her life called them to be there for over a week to pray, recount favorite family stories, be quiet together, and enjoy communion in the spirit of Christ. Her granddaughter, Sister Gemma, said it was 'like her children made a week long retreat in grandma's room'. Dorothy was an amazing woman whose physical presence will be missed. However, those who know her are certain that her prayers will be even more effective now.
A Rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2023 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City followed by a visitation with the family until 5:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 27, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dallas City with Fr. Tony Trosley as celebrant. Burial will follow at Gittings Mound Cemetery, rural Dallas City.
A memorial fund has been established for Gittings Mound Cemetery or the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit Dorothy's obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Obituary from Banks and Beal Funeral Home
Dorothy Eleanor Johnson was born April 14, 1930 in the family farmhouse near Dallas City, Illinois and died in the same farmhouse November 19, 2023. She was one of 8 children born to Paul and Grace Markey. Her siblings Lester, Leon, Frank, John, Tony, and Mary preceded her in death, and her sister Katherine survives. She loved learning and excelled in the local public schools she attended. Dorothy went on to study at Western Illinois State College, received her teaching certificate, and taught 4 years in rural Illinois schoolhouses. Her school teaching career ended when God started sending her children.
She met James R. Johnson (Jim), at a square dance near Dallas City. They were married on February 7, 1953 at Immaculate Conception Church in Carthage, Illinois. Jim became a Catholic shortly after their marriage as a surprise 'gift' to his new bride. Jim died July 30, 2009, with Dorothy at his bedside. Dorothy attended Sacred Heart Church in Dallas City her entire life with her family. They had ten children; two died at birth; the remaining 8 survived and had children of their own. She likes to refer to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as her 'treasures'.
Dorothy's children and grandchildren:
James (Liz) Johnson and children James M., Patrick, Paul, Timothy, and Jenny (deceased); Paul (Deb) Johnson and children Beth and Nora; David (Patricia) Johnson and children Heidi, Amy, Colleen, and Holly; Annetta (Dave) Tevis and children Ian and Michael; Robert (Lori) Johnson and children Megan, Hannah, and Ryan; Carol (Jim) Barnett and children Sister Gemma (Ashley), Grace, Katey, Daniel, and Samantha (deceased); Patricia (Jim) Cuffe and children Courtney, Grant, and Emily; Andrew (Becky) Johnson and children Tom, David, and Ellie
Dorothy's great grandchildren:
Abbey and Kate Van Middlesworth, Lena and Jonah Taylor, Rayna Tevis, Cora and Nathaniel Tevis, Owen, Addie, and Harper Brewer, Emma and Henry Mueller, Lauren Chalmers, and Jake Seymoure, Benjamin Bingham, Genevieve Johnson, many nieces, nephews, and step grandchildren.
It would have been more than enough work to be a farm wife and mother of 8, but Dorothy did not limit her love to her family. She taught the Catholic faith to other children, served on the Altar and Rosary Society, was a lector at Sacred Heart and served on the Durham election board. She performed many spiritual and corporal works of mercy including sending many letters of encouragement to those who needed them. She was not shy about entering into thorny issues with words given to her by the Holy Spirit. Many will miss those letters.
Jim, Dorothy, and their sons spent much time caring for the Gittings Mound Cemetery, her final resting place. After her sons left home, Dorothy continued to mow the cemetery by herself until Jim retired in 1990. Today her son David, and nephew Wayne Garrison continue the tradition. After Jim's retirement, Dorothy and Jim were able to garden together, visit their children and grandchildren, make many wooden pieces of furniture from oak grown on the farm, and fish the creek and Mississippi River. They especially enjoyed a few trips to Mobridge, South Dakota to fish for walleye in Lake Oahe with their 5 sons.
Dorothy's children gathered at her bedside at the end of her life. She did not ask them to come, but her life called them to be there for over a week to pray, recount favorite family stories, be quiet together, and enjoy communion in the spirit of Christ. Her granddaughter, Sister Gemma, said it was 'like her children made a week long retreat in grandma's room'. Dorothy was an amazing woman whose physical presence will be missed. However, those who know her are certain that her prayers will be even more effective now.
A Rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2023 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City followed by a visitation with the family until 5:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 27, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dallas City with Fr. Tony Trosley as celebrant. Burial will follow at Gittings Mound Cemetery, rural Dallas City.
A memorial fund has been established for Gittings Mound Cemetery or the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit Dorothy's obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Obituary from Banks and Beal Funeral Home
She met James R. Johnson (Jim), at a square dance near Dallas City. They were married on February 7, 1953 at Immaculate Conception Church in Carthage, Illinois. Jim became a Catholic shortly after their marriage as a surprise 'gift' to his new bride. Jim died July 30, 2009, with Dorothy at his bedside. Dorothy attended Sacred Heart Church in Dallas City her entire life with her family. They had ten children; two died at birth; the remaining 8 survived and had children of their own. She likes to refer to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as her 'treasures'.
Dorothy's children and grandchildren:
James (Liz) Johnson and children James M., Patrick, Paul, Timothy, and Jenny (deceased); Paul (Deb) Johnson and children Beth and Nora; David (Patricia) Johnson and children Heidi, Amy, Colleen, and Holly; Annetta (Dave) Tevis and children Ian and Michael; Robert (Lori) Johnson and children Megan, Hannah, and Ryan; Carol (Jim) Barnett and children Sister Gemma (Ashley), Grace, Katey, Daniel, and Samantha (deceased); Patricia (Jim) Cuffe and children Courtney, Grant, and Emily; Andrew (Becky) Johnson and children Tom, David, and Ellie
Dorothy's great grandchildren:
Abbey and Kate Van Middlesworth, Lena and Jonah Taylor, Rayna Tevis, Cora and Nathaniel Tevis, Owen, Addie, and Harper Brewer, Emma and Henry Mueller, Lauren Chalmers, and Jake Seymoure, Benjamin Bingham, Genevieve Johnson, many nieces, nephews, and step grandchildren.
It would have been more than enough work to be a farm wife and mother of 8, but Dorothy did not limit her love to her family. She taught the Catholic faith to other children, served on the Altar and Rosary Society, was a lector at Sacred Heart and served on the Durham election board. She performed many spiritual and corporal works of mercy including sending many letters of encouragement to those who needed them. She was not shy about entering into thorny issues with words given to her by the Holy Spirit. Many will miss those letters.
Jim, Dorothy, and their sons spent much time caring for the Gittings Mound Cemetery, her final resting place. After her sons left home, Dorothy continued to mow the cemetery by herself until Jim retired in 1990. Today her son David, and nephew Wayne Garrison continue the tradition. After Jim's retirement, Dorothy and Jim were able to garden together, visit their children and grandchildren, make many wooden pieces of furniture from oak grown on the farm, and fish the creek and Mississippi River. They especially enjoyed a few trips to Mobridge, South Dakota to fish for walleye in Lake Oahe with their 5 sons.
Dorothy's children gathered at her bedside at the end of her life. She did not ask them to come, but her life called them to be there for over a week to pray, recount favorite family stories, be quiet together, and enjoy communion in the spirit of Christ. Her granddaughter, Sister Gemma, said it was 'like her children made a week long retreat in grandma's room'. Dorothy was an amazing woman whose physical presence will be missed. However, those who know her are certain that her prayers will be even more effective now.
A Rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2023 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City followed by a visitation with the family until 5:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 27, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dallas City with Fr. Tony Trosley as celebrant. Burial will follow at Gittings Mound Cemetery, rural Dallas City.
A memorial fund has been established for Gittings Mound Cemetery or the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit Dorothy's obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Obituary from Banks and Beal Funeral Home
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
