Ina Johnson

Ina McCracken Johnson, 101, of Great Falls passed away at Peace Hospice April 13, 2014. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 20, 2014 from 3 pm to 5 pm at O’Connor Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Monday April 21, 2014 at 10 am at Westside Methodist Church with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Ina was born June 26, 1912 in Bainville, MT. She attended school in Bainville and went on to graduate from Montana Teacher’s College in Dillon. She taught school in several rural eastern Montana schools from 1931-38. During this time she was united in marriage to Meril Johnson. Together they raised their two sons and farmed just east of Froid. In 1947 she resumed teaching in Froid until 1961. Ina and her husband then moved to Great Falls where she accepted a position in the Great Falls School system as a fourth grade teacher in Valley View School until 1974 when she retired. Ina is a lifetime member of the P.T.A. and past president of the Froid P.T.A. She is a Past Noble Grand and 65 year member of Rebecah Lodge. Other memberships include Westside United Methodist Church, Retired Teachers Association, Great Falls Senior Citizens, Sons of Norway, Eagles Auxiliary, and Dudes and Dolls Square Dance Club, dancing into her 90’s. Ina’s church family provided an opportunity to share her faith and words of wisdom with her women’s devotional group. Ina’s loves were her family, friends, walking, dancing, and playing pinochle. Ina is survived by her brother, Gene McCracken; son Archie M. (Beverly) Johnson; grandchildren Cindy (Rick) Johnson Vancleeve of Bozeman, Dean (Carrie) Johnson of Manhattan, Donna (Kirk) Johnson Snure of Renton, WA, Tina Johnson and Starla Keiser both of Great Falls; great-grandchildren Brandon (Anna), Colby (Katie), and Spencer Vancleeve, Makenzie, Caydee, and Clay Johnson, Axl and Colton Snure, Mariah LeFebre, and Jessica Johnson; great-great-grandchildren Harlow and Jack Vancleeve; and numerous nieces and nephews. Among her friends who mourn her passing is Walter Siler, a good friend for the past many years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years Meril Johnson; son Keith Johnson; daughter-in-law Rene Johnson; sister Verna McCracken Goff; brothers Harvey, Charles, and Bill McCracken; and parents Harvey and Ruth McCracken Memorials are suggested to Westside Methodist Church or Peace Hospice of Montana.