Dolores Johnson
Dolores Ann Johnson, 90, of Staples passed away March 22, 2021.
Funeral services for Dolores were held March 29 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Staples with Rev. Robin Collins officiating.
Interment was at Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Staples.
Dolores was born April 18, 1930 on a farm in Aldrich Township to Milton and Josephine (Winter) Chapin. She grew up on the farm, went to District 6 School and attended high school in Staples. That didn’t work for her, she quit school and stayed home helping her dad on the farm shucking grain and riding the binder, helping her mother, detasseling corn and since they lived by the river, catching frogs to sell for bait. Dolores also babysat for the neighbors, helping with the garden, later making chili and canning it at the canning factory in Staples. Her family moved to Staples where she met George Johnson at a dance, later going with George on his milk route picking up milk from area farms. She helped a lady on the south side of Staples, taking care of her and helping her husband in his store. She married George on April 17, 1947 in Sisseton, South Dakota with friends as their witnesses. Dolores and George made their home four blocks south of Heier’s Store in Staples. Delores worked at the St. Charles Hotel, Wimpey’s Café, Skelly’s Cafe and Carter Ringer Sewing Company in Staples where she made girl scout shorts by the railroad tracks, later moving to the Carter/Ringer plant to make jackets and coats for about 21 years. After that she worked at Benson Optical in Staples as a janitor, then on the line until retirement.
George passed away March 23, 1993. She went to a dance with some lady friends and met a friend on September 25, 1996 and for eight years they wintered fin Texas. Her friend then passed away. In April 2009 she volunteered at Heart and Hands Thrift Store in Motley working until 2015. The store changed its name to Joyful Hearts and Delores continued there sewing buttons (est. 4,609.91 buttons) on cards to sell. Dolores loved to dance, crafts and playing cards. She enjoyed family reunions, spending time with her friends, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dolores is survived by two sons, Richard (Tanya) Johnson of Lawton, OK and Eugene (Michelle) Johnson of Rochester; three daughters, Kathleen (Gary) McGillivray of Anoka, Doris (Darrell) Nelson of Baudette, Bonnie L. Thompson of Fargo, ND; three sisters, Eloise (Marvin) Ryan of Pine River, Gloria Freeman of Brooklyn Park and Carol Heldman of Staples; one sister-in-law, Sherry Chapin of Orono; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Dolores is preceded in death by her husband, George; one son, Wayne; parents; four brothers, Henry, Burl, Dale and Larry; one sister, Phyllis Peterson; three brothers-in-law, Gale Freeman, Lloyd Heldman and Dick Peterson.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Harmony House in Motley.
Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home of Staples.
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