Mildred Johnson Obituary

Mancos resident Mildred Lorraine Johnson died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at the Valley Inn in Mancos. She was 90.

Known as "Millie," she was born to John and Catherine (Heise) Strong on Jan. 11, 1921, in Yuma, Colo. She grew up on the family farm with her brother and sister.

Mrs. Johnson graduated from Yuma High School in 1939, and then moved with her family to Denver in 1941.

On Aug. 15, 1942, she married Lloyd M. Rhoads at Camp Roberts in California. They had two children and were later divorced.

After attending Barnes Business College, Mrs. Johnson worked as a secretary at Gates Rubber Co. in the Industrial Hose Department. She married Joe Johnson, who also worked in sales in the same department.

After retiring from Gates in 1963, Mrs. Johnson studied handwriting analysis and was a partner in the company Confidential Analysts. She was president of the Colorado chapter of the International Grapho-Analysis Society, Inc., from 1971 to 1973.

Mrs. Johnson enjoyed being a grandmother, flower gardening, traveling to visit relatives and corresponding with her "beautiful handwriting," her family said. "Millie was an excellent cook and seamstress, making many of her own clothes."

The Johnsons moved to Mancos in 1993, and continued their hobbies of flower and vegetable gardening, feeding hummingbirds and keeping in touch with friends and relatives.

Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Joe Johnson, in April 2011.

She is survived by her daughter, Janice Brown, of Durango; son, Russ Rhoads of Denver; sister, Aileen Mekelburg, of Greeley; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one niece and three nephews.

No services are planned.

To send online condolences, click on the obituary section at www.ertelfuneralhome.com.