Arlene M. Johnson

Arlene M. Johnson was born in Wasta, SD on Dec. 11, 1915 to Henry and Ethel (Long) Charlton. She married David Joe Johnson on Aug. 24, 1935 in Hot Springs, SD. She died Wednesday Jan. 30, 2008 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. She is survived by 3 sons, Kenneth (Mary) Johnson, Rapid City; Larry (Janice) Johnson, Brea, CA; Craig Johnson, Black Hawk; daughter-in-law Marj Johnson, Atwater, CA; sister-in-law Gladys Charlton, Ashland, WI. Also 5 grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and father; husband David Joe, Jan. 6, 1982; son Darrell; sister Daisy and brother Reeford. Arlene was born on her parents homestead located north of Wasta. She attended elementary school at the Riverside School Dist. 54. In 1927, she and her family moved to Rapid City where she resided the rest of her life. She graduated from Rapid City High School in 1934 and then attended cosmetology school. She worked many jobs throughout her life, including weeding the onion fields for a local nursery; selling apple pies at a motel in Baken Park that she and her mother baked; selling Tupperware and Avon products for 25 years during which she earned many awards for her salesmanship. Since her retirement and her husband’s death, she has lived in the family home, raising beautiful flowers (especially roses) and keeping a green yard. She enjoyed visits from her friends and family and liked to play cards and go to Jerry’s for donuts.