Dee Johnson

Delores "Dee" Nadine Johnson, daughter of Charles Dewey Conklin and Velda Florena Van Meter Conklin, was born January 4, 1933 at Boone, Iowa and died April 23, 2009 at her home in Berkley, Iowa with her family at her side. She was 76 years, 3 months, and 19 days. Funeral Services were held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2009 Hastings Funeral Home Perry, Iowa, Words of comfort were provided by Pastor Deb Parkison, Rippey United Methodist Church, honorary casket bearers were Stephanie Lambert and Krystal Hilsenbeck. Her active casket bearers were Rodney Lambert, Scott Johnson, Doug Johnson, Jay Johnson, Michael Hilsenbeck and Shawn Marchant , the organist was Marjorie Vannatta. Recorded music, In The Garden, Who Am I, and How Great Thou Art, was provided by Jamie Aaron Kelly, one of Dee's favorite Elvis Impersonators. Burial was in Violet Hill Cemetery, Perry, Iowa. Dee was raised in Ogden, Iowa and received her education there. She was united in marriage to Robert Edwin Johnson on December 11, 1951 in McCook, Nebraska. They were parents of Candy, Keith, Bob, Douglas, Sheila, and Dan. Dee and Bob lived in Ogden for a time before moving to McCook, Nebraska in 1952. In 1964 they moved to Perry and in 1975 moved to their current home in Berkley. While in McCook, Dee had worked at St. Catherines Hospital and the A & W. Locally, she sorted seed corn for Farmers Hybrid. She later worked at the West End Caf for the Mathis family and then the Maid-Rite for Joe and Opal Ruth. In 1974 Dee began work at the Woodward State Hospital School as a Child Development Worker and retired in 1996. Dee was a former member of the Women of the Moose and the Iowa Women's Bowling Association. She was a huge Elvis fan and enjoyed her memberships in Eddie Miles Fan Club and Jamie Kelley Fan Club. Dee loved people and had many friends. She and Bob enjoyed traveling, visiting family and friends. Dee also enjoyed movies and collecting dolls. Dee loved hosting numerous foreign exchange students over the years. Dee was preceded in death by her parents, son Douglas Michael Johnson; and siblings, Charles; Raymond; Verletta; Donnie; Doris; infant twin brothers; and also Ronnie and Dick. Survivors include her husband, Robert of Berkley; 5 children, Bob "Wolfie" Johnson (Sonjie) of Angus; Keith Grafel (Roma) of Utica, KS; Candy Van Meter of Berkley; Sheila Hilsenbeck (Duane) of Ogden; Dan Johnson (Cindy Marchant) of Berkley; 13 grandchildren, Rodney Lambert (Jackie); Stephanie Lambert; (Keith's 5); Jason Scott Johnson; Douglas Michael Johnson II; Jay Robert Johnson; Michael Hilsenbeck (Geneen); Krystal Hilsenbeck; and Shawn Marchant; 10 great-grandchildren Lacey; Ryan; Courtney; Tyler; Patrick; Mackayla; Mackenzie; Skyler; Isabel; and Gabriel; sister Beverly Williams (Bernard) of Perry; and brother Lyle Conklin (Linda) of Ogden; sisters-in-law Judy Conklin of Gowrie; Margie Johnson of Omaha, NE; brother-in-law, Vern "Swede" Johnson (Susie) of Rodeo, CA; Uncle Lyle Conklin (Caroline) of Stone Hill, Arkansas; aunt Phyllis Van Meter of Sioux City; other relatives and many friends. A lunch was served at Hastings Funeral Home by the ladies of the Rippey United Methodist Church.