Helen Irene Johnston, 87, of Blue Earth passed away Sunday, April 12, 2015, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth. The Rev. Russ Jacobsen will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemeteryin  Blue Earth. Visitation time will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at St. Luke’s chapel and from 5 to 7 p.m. at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 400 E. 14th St. in Blue Earth, and one hour before the service. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com.

Helen was born July 21, 1927, in Faribault County on the family farm, the daughter of Howard and Mable (Beason) Meliza. She graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1945, and then attended Mankato State Teachers College. She married Richard Thomas Johnston July 17, 1949, in Blue Earth.

She taught school in rural Districts 1 and 72 from 1946 through May 1951. She was a member Green Thumb Garden Club, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 89 since 1959, Disabled American Veteran Auxiliary Chapter, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary No. 4580, First United Methodist Church since 1950, and First United Methodist Women since 1951. She was also a volunteer with the American Red Cross bloodmobile.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Charlie) Noah of Independence, Missouri; sons Dennis (Debra) Johnston of Santa Anna, California, Dale (Marsha) Johnston of Albert Lea, Glen  (Connie) Johnston of Owatonna and Wesley (Wanda) Johnston of Ferrelview, Missouri; brothers Harley Meliza of Blue Earth and Duane (Ruth) Meliza of Dundas; sister, Donna Baker, of Mesa, Arizona; eight grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. .

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Thomas Johnston; parents; and sister-in-law, Peggy Meliza.