Linda Ella Johnson, age 93, passed onto her eternal home on March 13, 2012, at Castle Manor Nursing Care Facility in Hot Springs,SD.


Linda was born September 10, 1918, at home, on their farm, on the Heart River northwest of Carson, ND, to John and Mathilda (Heim) Wolff. She moved with her parents to a farm south of Morristown in 1930 and received her 8th grade diploma in 1932. She worked doing housekeeping and home care for several people until she married Charles Vay Denton on December 4, 1935, at her family home. They moved to Wood Lake, NE, to farm. While living there son, Richard Charles, was born in 1939. In 1941 they moved to Hot Springs where Charles went to work for the Black Hills Army Depot at Igloo, SD. In 1944 they moved to a farm south of Morristown and Watauga. Daughter, Connie, was born while living there. In 1950 they purchased the Mollman place and moved one mile east. They continued to farm until 1957 when Charlie's health required him to leave the farm. In 1957 they moved to Hot Springs where they purchased the Southside Mobil station. Their son, Richard, married in 1959 and drowned in July of that year. Linda worked doing housecleaning for various people and nurse aide at the Lutheran Hospital. Linda and Charlie opened their home to Larry and Gordon Mueller as well as Gerald Rutz. After her husband passed away in 1966, Linda took an additional part time job in food service at the V.A. Center. In 1971 she married Milton Johnson in Hot Springs and they divorced five years later. Starting in 1968 she worked full time at the V.A. until she retired in 1977. She continued to babysit grandchildren and great grandchildren whom she dearly loved, tend her garden and fruit trees, and cook for family and friends until 2000 when she moved to The Evans. In 2003 she moved to Castle Manor where she enjoyed the people and all the activities.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Connie and husband John Benson of Hot Springs; four grandchildren: Chuck (Barb) Benson of Hot Springs, Brenda (Easton Jones) Benson of Henderson, MN, Brad (Shara) Benson of Bakersfield, CA, and Cheryl (Joe) Peters of Edgemont, SD; Eleven great grandchildren: Kolby and T'Aunah Benson; Danielle (Mitchell) Syverson, Jeff Benson, Colin and Morgan Jones; Braden, Brexten and Breyah Benson; MaLinda (Nathan) Morgan and Rebecca (Ben) Venables; Eight great great grandchildren: Abrienna Syverson; Riley, Rowan, Reece, and Renna Morgan; Daniella, Bailey, and Lucas Venables. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and son, Richard, and Larry Mueller, as well as 5 sisters and 6 brothers.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. thru 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 16, 2012, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 17, 2011, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Hot Springs with Rev. Gary Jacobson officiating. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.

A memorial has been established in Linda's name to benefit the Bethesda Lutheran School.