Mary Johnson

Mary Lou Johnson, age 80 of Faribault, passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna, MN after a long battle with cancer.    Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 5, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault with the Rev. Kevin Finnegan, pastor officiating. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault.    Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Monday for one hour prior to services.    Mary Louise Dickison, the daughter of Charles and Mary (McNamara) Dickison was born on October 12, 1929 in Emmetsburg, IA. She graduated from high school in Ayrshire, IA and then attended business school in Des Moines, IA. After business school she worked for Travelers Insurance Company in Watertown, SD and later transferred to Minnesota. She was also employed at Munsingwear Corp. in Minneapolis until she retired. On December 19, 1981 she was united in marriage to Sterling Johnson at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Mr. Johnson preceded her in death on July 20, 1996. Mary Lou and Sterling loved to square dance and were very active in their square dance club. They had a great passion for gardening. They also loved to travel and go camping throughout the U.S. Mary Lou traveled to Mexico, Europe, and Ireland and took many vacations with family members in recent years.    Mary Lou was active in her church; helping at funeral dinners, quilting groups and many more church activities. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading, putting puzzles together, knitting, and listening to music. Mary Lou was a quiet and gentle person who enjoyed the simple ways of life.    She is survived by her four brothers and two sisters; Richard (Miyoko) Dickison, John Dickison, Donald (Nancy) Dickison and Fred (Carol) Dickison, all of Faribault and Lois Condon and Nancy (James) Talley, both of Palmyra, MO; by 20 nieces and nephews; Susan Bishop, Jim Dickison, Rich Dickison, Mike Dickison, Bill Dickison, Kelly Wroe, Brett Swartwoudt, Jeff Condon, Pat Condon, Chuck Condon, Angie Palmer, Cindy Nygren, Brenda Kes, Joe Dickison, Tom Dickison, Paul Dickison, Kim Hagen, Tami LaCanne, Sherry Dickison and Michael Tobin and by several great nieces and nephews.    She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Robert Dickison, niece, Pamela Dickison, nephew, Rusty Swartwoudt, brother-in-law, James Condon and sister-in-law, Edna (Peewee) Dickison.