Dorothy Mae Johnson

Dorothy Mae (Sanderson) Johnson passed away of natural causes Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, at Sweet Memorial Home in Chinook, Mont., at the age of 83.

Viewing will be Dec. 3, at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Funeral services will be held Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. at the Hinsdale Lutheran Church with burial following at Hillview Cemetery.

Dorothy was born to Clifford and Beatrice (Martinson) Sanderson on May 27, 1937, in Grafton, N.D. She was later joined by brothers Duane in 1940 and George in 1946. She attended Nowesta School District #47 and Morrison School District #13 through the eighth grade and went on to attend high school at Bowesmont High in Bowesmont, N.D, graduating as valedictorian in 1955. Dorothy received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Dakota in 1962. She taught junior and senior high mathematics in Willow City, N.D., Veblen, S.D., and Hinsdale, Nashua and Whitewater, Mont. While in Whitewater, she organized the Whitewater Chapter of National Honor Society, Veterans Day programs, awards banquets, school plays, Graduation Tea and County Spelling Bees. After retirement from the Whitewater School in 1988, Dorothy worked as a substitute teacher in area schools and taught half-time at Glasgow High School, Glasgow, Mont., in 1990-1991.

Dorothy met John Keith Johnson, of Hinsdale ,in the spring of 1962 when she came to Whitewater to fill a teaching vacancy. Keith and Dorothy were married Dec. 22, 1962, in Drayton, N.D. Together they raised their children, Tom, Mary, and Linda, on their farm/ranch north of Saco, Mont.

Dorothy was a teacher through and through and was always willing to take the time to help anyone needing extra help with math or writing. She cared for her students long after they were no longer in her classroom and became good friends with many in their adult life. She was very smart and very giving of herself and her time. She believed in being a lifelong learner and loved technology and mastering new skills. Dorothy loved to crochet, read, visit with friends and family, play cards, write poems, tell jokes, and work on genealogy. Countless hours were spent building her family tree and helping others to learn more about their own family history. She embraced her Norwegian heritage and shared it with her loved ones. She made trips to Norway to visit relatives and see where her history began.

Her grandkids were truly her pride and joy. Every year they would receive a custom made, one-of-a-kind birthday card with one of her witty poems inside. Dorothy enjoyed keeping up with local sports long after her kids and grandkids were no longer involved.

She was preceded in death by infant daughter Julie Ann (1964); daughter Mary (1988); husband Keith (1992); and her parents Clifford (1981) and Beatrice (1998).

She is survived by her son Tom (Linda) Johnson and family: Frank & Alexsandra Weiderrick (Titus, Tanner & Taya), Louie & Jessica Oyler (Oden & Ozzie), all of Malta, Mont .; daughter Linda (Miles) Hutton and children Guy, Lyndsay & Reece, of Turner, Mont .; brothers Duane (Pat) Sanderson, of Hastings, Minn., and George (Marlane) Sanderson, of Moorhead, Minn .; aunt Leila Lehman, of Rugby, N.D., uncle Wendell (Janice) Martinson; and very good friend of many years, Dorothy Barton of Saco.

Memorials may be sent to the Whitewater Math Program, a Lutheran church of your choice, or to donor's choice.

Condolences may be left for the family at bellmortuarymontana.com.