Lillian May Johnson, age 89, passed into the Presence of her Lord on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

“May” was born January 11, 1929 in Sioux City, Iowa to Henry and Marjorie (Ford) Hedeen, the youngest of 3 girls.  Upon the passing of her mother as a young child, she was raised by her Uncle Albert and Aunt Lillian (Hedeen) Nelson, with her dad and sisters close by.  

May graduated from Morningside College in 1950, and from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1953.  She studied Christian Education at North Park College, where she met Dwight L. Johnson, whom she married on September 11, 1954.  They served together in pastoral ministry in Evangelical Covenant churches in Beresford, South Dakota, Minnedosa, Manitoba and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (both in Canada).  By the time they moved to Chicago in 1967, they had five children – four boys and one girl. There while working as a nurse at Swedish Covenant Hospital she served alongside Dwight as he worked at North Park College and served as Pastor of Visitation at Ravenswood Covenant Church. After Dwight's death in 1990, May continued as a nurse until she retired in1992.

Throughout her years, May was a faithful wife, a loving mother to her children, a wonderful and generous grandmother to her 16 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, and a kind aunt to her many nieces, nephews and their children.  She most loved being in the presence of her family.

Known for her calm and accepting demeanor, May welcomed all who came to her and faithfully showed them the love of Christ.  She was a well-loved pillar at Ravenswood Covenant Church, a capable and compassionate nurse, and a caring friend who was always ready to listen. May expressed her love in so many ways, one of them being to bless her loved ones with creative homemade gifts (sewn clothes, knitted items, homemade baskets, marvelous quilts and banners). Many have stories of how God used May's quiet wisdom and love to touch their lives. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

May is survived by her children Neal (Marie) Johnson, Mark Johnson, Jeffrey (Anita) Johnson, Gregory Johnson, Christine (Robert) Susman, and daughter-in-law Melodie Johnson.  Her memory also lives on in the lives of her grandchildren Jake Goschi, Katrina Johnson (Kyle Grose), Anika Johnson, Emil Johnson, Karna Johnson, Michael (Ali) Johnson, David (Cheryl) Johnson, Thomas (Elizabeth) Pfenson, Marcus Johnson, Anna (Mark) Austell, Carrie Johnson, Nathanael (Dianne) Susman, Jonathan Susman, Naomi Doraisamy, Joshua Susman, and Stephen Susman, and her great-grandchildren. She is dearly remembered by brothers- and sisters-in-law Richard (Louise) Klawitter, Arleth (Dale) Anderson, Betty (Gordon) Olson, and Doris Johnson.

May was preceded in death by her husband of almost 36 years, Dwight, as well as her parents Henry and Marjorie Hedeen, foster parents Albert and Lillian Nelson, stepmother Katharine Hedeen, sisters Mina Alford and Carol Card, grandson Carl Johnson,  brothers- and sisters-in-law Leon Alford, James Card, Silas and Geraine Johnson, Virgil and May Johnson, and Lois (Johnson) Klawitter, nieces Ann Alford Alexander and Collett Johnson, nephew Timothy Olson and great niece Nicole Scott.

A celebration of May's life and the hope of her resurrection in Jesus will be held on Saturday, December 15 at Ravenswood Covenant Church, 4900 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, Illinois with Pastor Phil Staurseth officiating.  Visitation at 2:00 pm, memorial service at 3pm and fellowship following with a light reception in the church lower level.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent in memory of Lillian May Johnson to

Covenant Harbor Bible Camp (1724 W. Main St., Lake Geneva, WI

https://secure-q.net/donations/HarborBC/1474

Or

CRU (100 Lake Hart Dr., Orlando, FL 32832

https://give.cru.org

or to your favorite Christian ministry.  

Cards for the family may be sent to 3850 W. Bryn Mawr #406, Chicago, Illinois 60659.