Elaine Lynette Johnson

Elaine Lynette Johnson of New Brighton passed peacefully away April 18, 2023. Cause of death was CNS lymphoma. Graduating in 1969 from UMD with a Bachelor of Science in history, Elaine faithfully served Minnesota's citizens in their state government as a dedicated and talented public servant for 42 years, serving six different governors (two Democratic-Farmer-Labor, three Republican, one Independence Party) from 1970-2012. She began as a secretary and rose to be HR Director for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA); Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations (DOER); returned to the MPCA as Director of Communications and Outreach; and ended her career in Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as Director of its Management Resources Bureau. Elaine was born October 15, 1947, at Park Rapids, Minnesota's St. Joseph Hospital. Her parents were James (Jim) William Johnson and June Aurelia (Tubbs) Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Bonneta Kathleen Johnson and LaDonna Marilyn Johnson; and a brother, James Robert Johnson. She is survived by her brother, Donald Eugene Johnson, and her sister-in-law, Cynthia Jo (West) Johnson of Owatonna, MN; nieces Kimberly Jo Johnson (Anaconda MT); Kelly Kristine Johnson, (Owatonna, MN); and nephew Kristoffer West Johnson (New Brighton, MN); grand-niece Natalie June Utoft (Owatonna, MN) and grand-nephews Harrison James Utoft (Owatonna, MN) and Orion S.W. Logan (Anaconda MT). Elaine will be deeply missed not only by family, but by the wide circle of friends she made wherever she went, whatever she was doing, in work or at play, with professional colleagues and social associates. She was ever a friend, a listener, a confidant, an advisor, an honest mentor to all those with whom she interacted. Her closest friends always called her "Frank" because-she was. She loved her hometown Park Rapids, Minnesota and spent many happy summers there in the Johnson home across from the Fishhook River; she adored Florida and savored her winters there. Her home in New Brighton was always a special place for friends to enjoy her pool, her hospitality, and relish the Minnesota sun. She loved traveling and exploring, investigating family history, doing research, and best of all, "Being There", wherever "There" was: Going to concerts, from the "Bee Gees" to "Home Free"; Vikings and Twins games, especially the 87 and 91 World Series; attending plays, ranging from "Frog and Toad" to "Lion King" to "Hamilton"; noodling along Lewis and Clark's trail to the Pacific; immersing herself with friends and family in "Virtual Van Gogh"; checking roadside stops at all those places with a brown sign out front, designating those 'historic places' that most folks just drive by; she gloried in travels to Europe and touring with friends. Elaine, in her 'joie de vivre' embraced life fully, zestfully. She reveled in it, savored it, devoured it, and in so doing, embodied a true 'bon vivant'-of life itself. A celebration of her life will be held from 1-3:00pm., (Eulogy beginning at 2:00pm) June 13, at Washburn-McReavy's Hillside Chapel, 2610 19th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN. Memorials in Elaine's name can be sent to MNDNR- -Parks & Trails Division at 500 Lafayette Rd. N, Saint Paul MN 55115

Tributes

Elaine Lynette Johnson

October 15, 1947 - April 18, 2023

Tributes

Elaine Lynette Johnson

October 15, 1947 - April 18, 2023

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203