Betty June Johnson

Betty June Johnson

Feb. 11, 1926 - Nov. 4, 2013

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Betty Jane Johnson, age 87, died at the Community Hospital in McCook on Nov. 4, 2013.

She was born on Feb. 11, 1926, at Hamlet, Nebraska, the only child of John and Amanda (Scriven) Zumhingst. She attended Hamlet Elementary School until second grade, then a country school near her home when her mother was her teacher. Her mother instilled the love of poetry and reading to Betty. She attended Hamlet High School for two years, then Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis where she took Normal Training Course so she could teach school.

Betty's first job was at Green Valley School in Hayes County where she taught for two years. She attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for three summers making her freshman year of college. She continued at UNL until her junior year, when she transferred to St. Paul Bible College in Minnesota. In 1949, she graduated with a Theology Degree in Missions. She prepared to be a missionary in Burkina Fraso, West Africa. Her home service was helping at a start-up church in Lincoln, Nebraska. She graduated from UNL in June of 1951. The next day, she injured her back and had to have surgery.

Betty returned to her home on the farm to recuperate. On July 5, four young men came to cut the hailed wheat crop on the family farm. With 100 percent loss, they redeemed 30 bushels to the acre by going one way. The crew of four men was working for Charles S. Johnson until Aug. 5, when all the neighbors' crops were harvested. The crew and Charles went to Chadron, Nebraska, to work. During this time, Charlie would always come back to the kitchen to help with the dishes and talk to Betty. He came back from Canada to Minden, where Betty was teaching English and Speech. At Thanksgiving time, Charlie came to see Betty and proposed reading Scripture verse from Ruth 1: 16. The couple was married after school let out. They took their new mobile home to Oklahoma to follow the wheat harvest to Canada.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charlie and a son, David Johnson, in 2011.

She is survived by her children, Jane Johnson of Palisade; George and wife, Johnna of Overland Park, Kansas; Julie Ann and husband, Mark Nelson of Kent, Washington and seven grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at the Hamlet Union Church on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 at 11 a.m. (Central) with Pastor Kevin McGraw officiating. Inurnment will be in the Meadow Lawn Cemetery at Hamlet.

Memorials may be left in her name at the Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook.Friends may leave on-line condolences at herrmannfh.com.

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.