Obituary of Margaret Rosella Johnson

In Loving Memory of
MARGARET ROSELLA JOHNSON
November 6, 1922 – May 14, 2024

A LONG  LIFE,   WELL- LIVED

It is with sadness and heavy hearts, but with wonderful memories, that we announce that our loving and devoted mother, grandma and great-grandma passed on to Heaven on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the age of 101 years, while in the loving arms of those she loved and those who loved her.

Margaret Rosella Johnson (née Schmaus) was a kind, considerate, and compassionate woman who brought happiness and comfort to her family, friends and colleagues throughout her life.  Her devotion to her family, as well as her love of life in so many ways, will be treasured by all those who knew her.  She lived a life filled with patience, wisdom and understanding, with a strong faith in God, and was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need.

Marg was born in Kindersley, SK.  She grew up in a happy family with five siblings and had many relatives and friends with which to enjoy life.  After attending elementary school in Kindersley, Marg graduated from Kindersley High School in 1940.  She worked on her family’s farm in the Kindersley area, very much enjoying the country life.  After high school, Marg graduated with a degree in Nursing from the Victoria Hospital Nurses College in Prince Albert.  She began working in Eston, SK, then Brantford, ON, and eventually Saskatoon where she met and married her (late) husband, Lloyd Johnson, on September 23, 1950 – resulting in a 68 year-long romance and adventure.

Marg stopped working when her first child came along and was a stay-at-home mom for many years.  She eventually resumed working as a nurse in a number of sites in Regina, including Pioneer Village Nursing Home.  Margaret was a devout Christian, whose faith was reflected in her many activities with Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Regina.  She spent many long hours raising her three children, and was a deeply caring person.  She loved to bake, sew, read, and keep scrapbooks and albums filled with a wide variety of memories including thousands of family photos.  Marg had a green thumb and kept all her house plants and gardens flourishing.  She would regularly volunteer for various charitable organizations such as the Salvation Army – and she also made time to become a certified Reflexologist.  Marg took up golfing with her loving husband, and she enjoyed many journeys throughout Saskatchewan with camping and golfing being the main activities.  After retirement, she and her husband spent many winters in Tucson, Arizona, visiting with her two daughters and their children – this was an abiding joy for her. 

She will be long remembered by her family and by those who knew her not only as a selfless and giving soul, but also for her strong yet loving character, her life of giving to many charitable organizations, her many personal accomplishments, and her infectious sense of humour.  Marg was indeed a special woman whose generosity touched many others during her life.  She was a loving and devoted mother whose family of three children absorbed much of her time and attention.  Thank you so much mom and grandma for your passionate kindness and optimism with which you have taught us to live our lives… this has been your greatest gift to all of us.

“In body you are gone but in spirit you will remain with us forever while the seeds you planted shall never perish.”

Marg was predeceased by her parents Joseph William Schmaus and Emalie Rosella (née Nargang); younger brother Victor and sister-in-law Robina; younger brother Billy and sister-in-law Anita; younger sister Jean Kilgannon and brother-in-law Bill; and younger sister Vera and brother-in-law Bill Delainey.

She will be dearly missed and her memory will be cherished by her son Brian Johnson (Lynn Wells) of Sudbury, and their children Erin Navin (Sean), and John Lovering of Regina and Andy and Jesse Trussler of Edmonton; daughter Marlene Elias (Bill) and their children Stephanie and Jacob of Tucson, Arizona; daughter Gwen Spooner and her children Ellen of San Diego, Michael (Samantha) of Vail, Arizona, Bridget of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Maggie of Tucson, Arizona; great-grandchildren Taya Navin, Knox Navin, and Eli Holtslander of Regina, Jayden Elias of Tucson, Declan Martin of Tucson, Isabella Spooner, Harper Spooner, and Kayden Spooner of Vail, Arizona; and her younger brother Gordon (Gay) of Edmonton; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to all the wonderful people at Pasqua Hospital and Grace Hospice for their generous support during Margaret’s final weeks.

A Celebration of Margaret’s Life will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 190 Massey Road, Regina, SK with Rev. Diane Nokonechny officiating, fellowship luncheon to follow at the church, and interment to follow that afternoon in Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery, 815 Assiniboine Avenue East, Regina, SK.  Flowers will be gratefully declined.  In her honour and memory, donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, or to a charity of one’s choice.