Doris E. Johnson

Doris E. (Mathison) Johnson, 97, of rural Coon Valley, died Tuesday June 20, 2017 at Vernon Manor in Viroqua. She was born in the town of Coon to Peder and Karen (Ronningen) Mathison on May 7, 1920 the 9th child of 10 siblings. She lived her entire life on the family farm homesteaded by her grandfather in 1857. Doris attended the Erickson School and graduated from Westby High School in 1938. She graduated Vernon County Normal School in 1940 and then La Crosse State where she earned her degree in education. She taught at Leum, Spring Coulee and Brinkman Ridge schools. After the rural schools closed, she received a Master's Degree at La Crosse Teachers College in education and taught for 30 years at the Wisconsin Child Center in Sparta. Doris was also a faithful caretaker of her family over the years. She married Reuben Johnson in 1988. She was a lifelong member of Vang Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her husband, Reuben and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters, Minnie Theige and Marie Role; 7 brothers, Hjalmer, Clarence, Orville, Verlin, Millard, Leonard and De Verne.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday June 25, 2017 at the Vang Lutheran Church, rural Westby. Rev. Dan Wollman will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at selandsfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be given to the Vang Lutheran Church.

A special thank you to the staff of Vernon Manor for their compassion and excellent care.