The memorial service for Karen M. Johnson of Geneva will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. The Rev. Arne Halbakken will officiate. Friends may visit with family from noon until the time of the service at the church on Thursday. There will be no reviewal.

Karen died suddenly at her home on Friday, Dec. 20, 2002. She was 60.

She was born on Oct. 31, 1942, at her grandparents’ home in rural Freeborn County, the daughter of Kenneth and Gunhild (Anderson) Hojberg.

She attended rural District #82, Clarks Grove, and later graduated from Ellendale High School in 1960.

She married Billy L. Johnson on June 6, 1965, in Rawlins, Wyo.

In 1966, they returned to Minnesota to make their home in rural Ellendale. They have also lived in Bixby, Ellendale, and most recently Geneva. Karen had worked at Land O’ Lakes in Albert Lea, Brown Printing in Waseca, North Central Plastics in Ellendale, the New Richland Care Center and for the past 12 years at Josten’s in Owatonna. She also had her own business, Create-A-Book. She enjoyed doing needlepoint, craft, decorating cakes, and making books. She loved spending time with her precious grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Billy of Geneva; her father, Kenneth Hojberg of New Richland; five children: Billie Jo and her husband Lawrence Schwierjohann of rural New Richland, Shannon Johnson of Albert Lea, Troy Johnson of Geneva, Travis Johnson and his wife Kelley of Albert Lea, and Shane Johnson of Albert Lea; seven grandchildren: Heather Johnson, Justin Johnson, Erica Thompson, Trissa Johnson, Drew Folie, Trevor Johnson and Kolby Johnson; a sister, LeeAnn Hojberg of New Richland; brother-in-law, Charles Johnson and his wife Darlene of Ocala, Fla.; aunts and uncles: Eleanor Peterson of Albert Lea, Gerald Hojberg of Clarks Grove, Frank B. Anderson and his wife Arlene of Owatonna, Egel Anderson and his wife Phyllis of Albert Lea, and Ethel and her husband LaVern Hoff of St. Louis Park; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Gunhild Hojberg, in 2000; granddaughter, Cheyenne Johnson; brother-in-law, John Johnson; father-in-law, Howard Johnson; and mother-in-law, Norma L. Johnson.