Lorene Lucille Johnson, 84

Lorene Lucille Johnson, 84, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. She was born on Oct. 8, 1926, in Wilton, N.D., to Joseph and Anna (Backman) Brostrom.

Lorene spent her early years in Moline, Ill. She graduated from Moline High school and attended Moline Public Hospital School of Nursing. Later Lorene attended Kansas City College of Mortuary Science; she also received a Bachelor's of Nursing from Montana State College in Bozeman.

Early in her career, Lorene worked as an emergency nurse and night supervisor at Moline Public Hospital. Lorene then worked for many years at both Benton Hospital, in Fort Benton, and at Deaconess Hospital in Billings, as a supervisor in the obstetrics unit and as an instructor at the nursing schools.

Lorene married L. Willard Johnson on Jan. 3, 1948; together they worked in the family business, Johnson Mortuary, from 1960 to 1997.

Lorene served on the Montana Board of Funeral Directors for 10 years. She also served as the president of the Women of the Church for Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She was active in many civic and community groups such as the Kalispell Soroptimists and the Sons of Norway. She taught prenatal classes as well as CPR and first aid for the Red Cross.

Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, L. Willard Johnson; son Paul Johnson; three brothers; and one sister.

Lorene is survived by a son, Leonard Johnson, and his wife, Barbara, of Gresham, Ore.; daughter, Connie Johnson, of Belgrade; brother, Raymond, of North Dakota; grandchildren, Leikny V. Johnson of Burke, Va., Erlend N. Johnson of Newark, Del., and Malia Johnson of Boston.

There will be a viewing for Lorene from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Services for Lorene will follow the viewing.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Lorene's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Lorene's guest book, offer condolences and share memories.