Patricia Gaines Johnson, 92, of Baxter, Minn., formerly of Grand Marais, died peacefully on Dec. 28, 2017, surrounded by family.
Pat was born in Minneapolis in 1925 and attended school there and in St. Louis before graduating from Washburn High School in Minneapolis in 1942. She then attended Carleton College in Northfield.
In 1948 she married Richard Warren Johnson, and they set up housekeeping in International Falls, where Dick started his law practice. Moves to Duluth and St. Paul followed during his assignments with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and he eventually started a private law practice in Minneapolis. He and Pat settled in Edina where they raised their growing family.
In 1978 Dick moved the practice to Grand Marais where they were building a welcoming home on the hill overlooking Lake Superior, and Pat moved up full time the following year. They both made lifelong friends in Grand Marais, and Pat took great joy in working at Lake Superior Trading Post. In the spring of 2014, Pat relocated to Baxter to an assisted living community, where again she made many friends.
During her life Pat was an active church and community volunteer, including extended service at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital terminal cancer ward and serving as an election judge in both Edina and Grand Marais. She and Dick loved nothing better than entertaining family and friends and pursuing their love of music and travel.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Gladys Gaines; her brothers Arthur, William and Thomas Gaines; her husband of 58 years Richard W. Johnson; and an infant daughter Carol.
She is survived by her children Molly (Mike) Lutz of Edina, Patsy (Bill) Bernhjelm of Outing, Rick (Jayne) Johnson of Grand Marais, Margi (Mike) Atwood of Prior Lake, Katie (Fred) Valfer of Mint Hill, N.C., and Nancy Needham of Maple Grove; grandchildren Charlie (Betsy), Elizabeth (Bryan), Dave (Kyoung), Kathleen (Michael), Paula (Jim), Will (Katie), Beth, Kevin, Dan, Topper, Grace, Lily; 11 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and extended family.
Special thanks to the staff at Edgewood Assisted Living in Baxter and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care during Mom’s final days.
A funeral mass and interment will be held in the spring in Brainerd. Arrangements are being handled by Nelson-Doran funeral home, Brainerd.
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