Helen Arena Johanson

Helen A. (Gotch) Johanson, 86, of Emerson, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at Shalimar Gardens Assisted Living in Fremont, Nebraska. Funeral services for Helen will be held Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Emerson, Nebraska with Pastor Gretchen Ritola officiating. Visitation will be Friday, March 8, 2013, from 3:00 until 8:00 P.M. with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M. at Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Emerson, Nebraska. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Emerson, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Emerson, Nebraska. Helen was born March 25, 1926 near Waterbury, Nebraska to Harry and Alvina (Barge) Gotch. She was baptized on October 3, 1926 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Emerson, Nebraska. She graduated from Emerson High School in 1944, and earned a teaching certificate from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. From 1944 until 1952, Helen taught at country schools in the rural Emerson, Homer and Waterbury areas. On June 8, 1952 Helen married Donald Johanson. The couple farmed together around Emerson, Nebraska for several years. Helen was very active in raising her family, and working on the farm. She enjoyed Polka music, gardening, poetry, quilting, and playing cards especially pitch. Helen was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church where she had taught Sunday school and was active in the Miriam Circle. After retiring Helen and Donald enjoyed traveling together all over the southwest and west coast and especially to Arizona in the winter months. Helen is survived by a son Dale and his wife Jamie Johanson from Pierce, Nebraska and their children Seth, Sadie, Annika and Aaron; and a daughter Diane and husband Raymond Rohn of Fremont, Nebraska and their son Jeremy and his wife Mindy of Fremont, Nebraska and their two daughters Anna and Emma; and a sister Bernice Dolezal of Pender, Nebraska and many nieces and nephews. Helen is preceded in death by her parents Harry and Alvina, husband Donald, one sister Margaret Rasmussen and a brother John Gotch.