Lera Anine Johnson

HAMILTON - Lera Anine Johnson, 95, of Hamilton passed away peacefully in her sleep, November 1, 2012 at Discovery Care Centre in Hamilton, MT. She was born to Edson Alonzo Martinell and Mette Simonsen Martinell on October 21, 1917 at Edgerton, Alberta, Canada.
As a small child she moved with her family to Victor, MT and graduated from Victor High School in 1936. Lera married Harvey Everett Johnson at her parents' home at Victor on December 25, 1938. They lived most of their married life in Missoula, MT where Harvey was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad.
After Harvey's retirement they moved to Hamilton. Lera devoted her entire adult life to her family. She was an accomplished seamstress, loved to crochet and had a beautiful singing voice. She will be remembered for her delightful sense of humor. In 1951, Lera became a naturalized citizen of the United States at Missoula, MT. She was a member of Electa Chapter #7, Order of the Eastern Star. Lera has been a resident of the Discovery Care Centre for the last several years.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in- law, Helen J. and J. D. Van Cleve, Albuquerque, NM; son and daughter-in-law, John H. and Lynne Johnson, Pinole, CA and her daughter and son-in-law, Joanne L. Johnson and Neil DeGroot, Robbinsville, NC. She was a loving Grandmother to Gerald Van Cleve, Lori Skelton, Deborah Estes, Valerie Skelton and Marianne Portillo. She is also survived by eight great- grandchildren, three great-great-granddaughters, numerous nieces, nephews and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edson and Mette Martinell; husband, Harvey E. Johnson; sister, Minnie Wetzel and two brothers, Alfred Martinell and Jess Martinell.
It was Lera's wish that a funeral service not be held in her memory. Lera has been cremated and her cremains will be scattered at a later date along with her husband's. Memorials may be sent to Discovery Care Centre, 601 N. 10th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840.