Linda K. Johnson, 79, of Salem, Illinois passed away on January 29, 2023, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia.
She was born on May 3, 1943 at Salem Memorial Hospital, the daughter of Wm. Howard and Helen (Herdt) Berry. She married Denzil ‘Leroy’ Decker on September 2, 1962 and they had one son, Mark Allen Decker of Salem. They divorced. On July 20, 1968, she married Clifton James ‘Jim’ Johnson, Jr. in Shawnee, OK. He survives her in Salem. They had one son, Clifton ‘Cliff’ James Johnson, III of Salem.
Linda graduated from Salem Community High School and was active with the Class of ’61 alumni group helping to organize monthly luncheons and activities during class reunions. She attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale in a business machines program where she was the first woman in their new developed computer-programming course.Linda spent 35 years in insurance in Oklahoma and California. She and Jim retired back in Salem in 2012 and ended up working at the local Walmart where they both retired a second time.
Linda loved people and making new friends everywhere she went and was active with the Republican Women of Marion County, previously serving as Vice President. She volunteered as a Pink Lady at the Salem Township Hospital for several years and suggested the name of the gift shop ‘Pink Petals.’
Linda was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church where she enjoyed the LifeLight Bible Study group and supporting the Youth Ministry. She enjoyed playing dominoes at the Bryan-Bennett Library every Thursday, exploring yard sales, and playing the Queen of Hearts games at the Luther B. Easley American Legion in support of veterans. Linda was a past member of Kiwanis helping children, donating to the Pregnancy Care Center, and enjoyed time with family at holidays and reunions.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents; mother and father-in-law Jettie Mae Robison and Harry T. Robison of San Diego and Clifton ‘Clifford’ James Johnson, Sr. of Shawnee, OK; brother and sister-in-law Rick and Sue Dombrowski of Redlands, CA; brother and sister-in-law Don and Corky Nichols of Shawnee OK; Howard ‘Bud’ Nichols of St. Augustine FL; and brother and sister-in-law Bob and Thelma Benton of Shawnee, OK.
In addition to her husband and two sons, Linda is survived by her sister Laura Belle Bengelsdorf of Chesterfield, VA; sister-in-law Donna Lea Fortune and family of Shawnee, OK; brother-in-law Carl (Ty) Johnson and family of Shawnee, OK; nephews and nieces: Tim Wolters, Tom Wolters, Sherry Wolters, Michael (Tammy) Wolters & family, and Stacey Wolters all of Virginia; Stephanie (Shaun) Hankins, Nathanial Wolters, and Brianna (Patrick) Johnson of Virginia; Nancy (Benton) Wright & family, Diane (Benton) Hogue & Family, Beth (V.A.) Hatley & family, and Linda (Benton) White & family all of Oklahoma; David Hubbard & family of OK, Donna Gale (Hubbard) of AZ, Christine (David) Pollitt & family, and Julia (Stephen) Green & family of CA; Sandra (Nichols) Nelson & family of TX; Michael Fortune & Family and Edinna Fortune & family all of OK.
Linda is also survived by special cousins Joyce (Glosser) Hodge, and Lori, Ian, and Areesa Eisenhauer of Salem; Nancy (Denny) Geiler and family of Salem, and Cathy (John) Heimlich and family of Springfield.
The visitation for Linda Johnson will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at the Salem Lutheran Church in Salem. Funeral service immediately following. Burial will follow at East Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the family, and will be accepted at the service, or by mail to Jim Johnson, c/o Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 97, Salem, IL 62881. Arrangements are entrusted with the family’s care by the Sutherland- Rankin Funeral Home, 310 N. Broadway, P.O. Box 97, Salem, IL 62881 (618) 548-1234.
