Thorine Johnson, 93, of Fertile, MN, died on Monday, March 30, 2015, at the Fair Meadow Nursing Home, Fertile, MN. Pearl Thorine Johnson was born Sept 22, 1921 to Gilbert and Tomina (Pederson) Lee. Thorine was baptized on October 2, 1921, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and confirmed on November 17, 1935 at Maple Lake Lutheran Church, rural Fertile. Thorine grew up with six siblings and one cousin on the Lee family farm north of Fertile in Godfrey Township.

Thorine attended Woodland Nook Country School, near her home, through the 8th grade. She then worked for neighbors doing housework, until she moved to Minneapolis. For six years, Thorine worked at a retired teachers home, a laundry/cleaner business and a factory. For one year, she attended evening classes at the Lutheran Bible Institute of Minneapolis, while working her day job. Prior to going to the cities, Thorine had met a tall, handsome young man by the name of Alton. Were they meant to be together? Not yet, life took them in different directions. Thorine worked in Minneapolis and Alton went into the service. It was 9 years before Alton and Thorine reunited.

On June 2, 1951, Thorine was joined in marriage to Alton Johnson at Maple Lake Lutheran Church. They made their home on 404 E. Main Ave, Fertile, for their entire married life. Alton worked in maintenance at the Fertile-Beltrami School and Thorine committed her free time to teaching Sunday School and Release Time at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile. In 1990, Alton became sick and Thorine cared for Alton during his illness until he died of a brain tumor in 1992. Thorine continued to live in their home keeping busy with church activities, riding her bike, going to Red Hat Ladies events and staying active in the community exercise class. In 2012, at the age of 91, she sold her house and moved into Summerfield Place. On February 10, 2015, Thorine became a resident of Fair Meadow Nursing Home.

Thorine had a good life and was forever grateful to God for her many blessings. She taught release time classes for over 30 years and helped many young people learn about God and the Christian Faith. Alton and Thorine did a lot of traveling in their years together– trips to California, Florida, Arkansas, South Dakota, and Canada. Shortly after Alton's death, Thorine was given the opportunity to visit the Holy Land with a group led by her niece, Sharon and husband, Pastor Todd Olson. This was a highlight in her life; one that she never thought possible at the age of 72! She kept those memories alive in her scrapbook, one of many that she made as a hobby over the years. Thorine was grateful for her family, friends and neighbors! She found a new home at Fair Meadow and said she was treated so well by everyone. She was happy to be in Fertile, and as she put it, "there is no better place to be, outside of heaven!". Several years ago when Thorine was asked what she would like to have included in her obituary she said it would be pretty short, but she wanted everyone to know how much she loved her Lord Jesus Christ.

Thorine is survived by her family members: brother, Orville (Ede) Lee, of Mentor, MN; sister, Gladys Swengel, Vadnais Heights, MN; sisters-in-law: Nancy Lee, Frances Lee and Karen Johnson; brothers-in-law: Arlie (Beverly) Johnson, Helmer "Bud" (Sharon) Johnson, and David Proctor; many nieces and nephews and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Alton, sisters: Bernice Bakken and Carrie Lee; brothers, Arnold and Gilbert "Gib"; double cousins, Bennie Lee and Peter Lee; brothers-in-law: Vernon Swengel, Arnold Bakken, Norris Johnson, Harvey Johnson and sister-in-law, Beverly Proctor.


Funeral services will be on Thursday, April 2, 2015, at 11 AM, in the Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.

Visitation will be one hour before the services in the church.

Burial will be in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.