Dolores M. Johnson

Dolores Mary Johnson

Dolores Mary Huar Johnson of Maple Grove, MN, formerly of Hawley, passed away on October 3, 2023.

Dolores Mary Huar was born February 3, 1935 to Christine (Theis) and Arthur Huar in rural Hennepin County, MN. The world in which she was born was incomparable to the one she left. She lived through the Depression in a small home without electricity or running water. Dolores’ education started in a one-room schoolhouse near Hamel. In 1952, she graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Waverly and pursued a career in nursing. She graduated from St. Catherine’s College School of Nursing in St. Paul in 1955. Dolores began her long career working for the VA Hospitals in St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Feeling adventurous, she and two of her college friends headed to Arizona for a summer to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. Dolores subsequently worked at St. John’s Hospital in Fargo and St. Ansgar’s Hospital in Moorhead. She spent the last 25 years of her career as a traveling and compassionate home health care nurse in Clay, Norman, and Becker Counties. This may have been the favorite part of her career as she could be her own boss!

In June of 1957, after a year and a half of courtship, she married Curtis Johnson in Minneapolis. Later that year they moved to Moorhead and started their family. They raised six independent children and doted on their 13 grandchildren, traveling frequently to spend time with them and watch them participate in their activities. Their enduring love story was a testament to the power of commitment and partnership. 

Dolores was an active member in her communities. She participated in the Moorhead Mrs. Jaycees, holding almost all offices, including President. Dolores served on the Dilworth School Board, one of the only women to serve on the board in that era. She joined the American Legion Auxiliary in Hawley and served as Secretary. Dolores volunteered for many years at Red River Valley Hospice and for Mary’s Shelter while snow birding in AL. She was a member of Hawley Women’s Study Club and organized the monthly bunco group. 

Dolores had a strong faith and loved her church, St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Hawley, where she was a member of the church council and served as a sacristan, Eucharistic Minister, and lector. Dolores was also active in the St. Andrew’s Ladies Guild, welcoming and seating guests at the Turkey dinners.

Dolores was extremely social, loved meeting new people, and had many lifelong friends with whom she remained connected. A few of her favorite pastimes were reading, sewing, quilting and watching her beloved Minnesota Twins. Dolores started working on the family genealogy in 1968 and only recently passed it on to her children. She enjoyed traveling and took several memorable trips to Europe with her daughters and, more recently, cruises on the American Queen in the U.S. with Curt. A lifelong learner, she had a strong interest in history as well as world cultures, religions, and ethnic foods. Dolores was loved beyond words and will be sorely missed by her many friends and entire family.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Donad, Robert, Reverend Ralph Huar; and several nephews. She is survived by her husband, Curtis, of 66 years and her children: Mary Jo (Kevin Farrell) of Lewes, DE; Paul of Lakeville; Jon (Maureen) of Rochester; Elizabeth Johnson Bosco (Frank) of Limerick, PA; Michelle of Maple Grove; and Amy (Shelly Meyer) of Golden Valley; 13 grandchildren: Calvin (Michaela), Jesse, Sydney, Peter, Abigail, Grace, Carter, Lauren, Elizabeth, Emma, Lola, Julia, and Claire. She is also survived by her sister LaVerne Hoy (Elburn, IL), sister-in-law Adele Johnson Kerkof (Renton, WA), brother- and sister-in-law James and Marze Johnson (Alexandria), and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation to honor Dolores’ life will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Wright Funeral Home in Hawley, MN. A second visitation will be held at 10:00 am the following morning at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Hawley followed by the funeral mass at 11:00 am. Interment will take place at 10:00 am Tuesday, October 17 at the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery, Little Falls. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, P.O. Box 129, Hawley, MN 56549 (please designate for “stained glass window fund” in memory of Dolores Johnson); Safe Hands Rescue (https://safehandsrescue.app.neoncrm.com/forms/in-honor-of-dolores-johnson); North Memorial Foundation, 3300 Oakdale Ave N, Suite 425, Robbinsdale, MN 55422 (please select Hospice Program in memory of Dolores Johnson); or an organization of your choice.