Wendy Louise Johnson, 67, of Avon

Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 11am at Zion Lutheran Church in Avon. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel in Avon is in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church of Avon, SD in memory of Wendy Johnson.

Wendy Louise Johnson was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 6, 1951, the daughter of Wendell Snell and Greta (Vander Valk) Snell. She passed away at Majestic Bluffs in Yankton, SD on August 25, 2019.

Wendy resided in Norman, Oklahoma during her childhood and all through her college years. She received her Bachelors degree in Nursing from The University of Oklahoma in 1973. From 1973 to 1979 Wendy served as an active duty nurse in the United States Navy. She met Ray Johnson at the US Naval hospital in Chicago, IL. Wendy and Ray were united in marriage on August 14, 1976. Three children were born to this marriage, Matt, Mark and Robin.
In 1980, Wendy and Ray moved back to South Dakota and began farming with Ray's father, Eldon. Wendy showed her love for nursing and taking care of others by working at St. Michael's Hospital in Tyndall, she then became a Nurse Case Manager for the Menno Nursing Home, and working for Home Instead as a home health nurse out of Mitchell, SD until her retirement in 2016. In October of 2018, Wendy became a resident of Autumn Winds in Yankton, SD.
Wendy was deeply committed to the Lord and found great comfort in his word. She was a very passionate, dedicated nurse showing great compassion and care for each of her patients. Wendy enjoyed nature and the great outdoors and camping during her childhood. She was an excellent seamstress and often made her own clothing, including making her own wedding dress. Wendy was a talented artist; she particularly enjoyed painting. Wendy was known for her home-cooked meals and ability to feed a farm full of hard-working help. In Wendy's free time she enjoyed gardening, animals, and attending bible study. Wendy was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Avon, SD and a member of the Zion's Lutheran Woman's Missionary League. Wendy had a huge heart; she was known for her warm loving hugs, kind spirit, and was compassionate to everyone she met. Wendy adored her grandchildren and she enjoyed her time with them making crafts, reading, drawing, painting, and playing with her grandchildren. Her grandchildren will miss her enthusiasm while reading stories, playing silly made up games and the many farm adventures they shared.
Wendy will be continued to be loved by her surviving immediate family: Ray of Avon, Greg (Gretchen) of Lake Tapps, WA, Matt (Michele) of Sioux Falls, Mark (Samantha) Johnson of Avon, and Robin (Eric) Winter of Mitchell. She will also be missed by her surviving brother Jon (Debbie) Snell of Portland, OR, stepbrother Russell (Marsha) Dunn of Nroman, OK and brother in-law Brent Smithof Norman, OK. Wendy was blessed with five grandchildren and two step grandchildren.
In death, Wendy is joining her parents, Wendell Snell, Greta Snell, stepmother Lazelle (Dunn) Snell, sister Roxanne (Snell) Smith, and stepbrother Marshall Dunn.