Obituary for ​Emeline “Emmy” Almquist (née Johnson)

Age 105, of Robbinsdale, former 68 year resident of South Minneapolis, died February 1, 2025.

Preceded in death by husband Albert (1976), parents John A & Amanda Johnson, brothers J.F. Wilmar & Vernold Johnson, and grandson Daniel Almquist. Survived by sons Thomas - Los Angeles, Richard (Ann) - Parkers Prairie, Kenneth (Rhonda) - Delano, daughter Linda Eriksson (Wendell) - Brooklyn Center, sister-in-law Dorothy Johnson - Almelund, niece Annette Korolchuk (Peter) - Minnetonka, nephew Dana Alan Johnson (Dana Mary) - Almelund, 16 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the residents of Copperfield Hill. Many thanks to the caring staff of Copperfield Hill, North Hospice and Lutheran Church of the Master.

Emmy grew up with her two brothers on a farm in Almelund, Minnesota - 10 miles northwest of Taylor’s Falls. After graduation from North Branch High School in 1937, she met husband Albert while attending business college in Minneapolis. In 1942 they married and in 1950 built their home in the East Lake Nokomis area where they raised four children, and she resided until 2017.

After not working for 31 years, in 1973 she joined Dayton’s customer service department. Three years later Albert died suddenly, leaving her a widow at age 57. While losing the love of her life, her inner strength, strong faith, good support system of family and friends and meaningful work enabled her to see a rich fulfilling life was still ahead.

Her great loves were her family, her church, music, friends, gardening, traveling, and writing. She was always ready to help her many friends and family and she was a great example of one who lived her faith.

Church was always a part of her life. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Almelund, Minnesota. She sang her first Sunday School solo at age 4, and at a classmate’s funeral at age 10. She was always in a church choir - In her hometown Almelund, the Augustana Choir in Minneapolis, Bethel Choir in North Minneapolis, then in 1950 Hope Lutheran Choir in South Minneapolis. At Hope she was active in the Lutheran Church Women, played piano for Sunday School and Bible School, sing-a-longs, enjoyed Couples Club, Hill Climbers, served for funerals, worked with the church library, and was a charter member of the Nimble Thimbles quilting group. Her Hope friends gave her the moniker “The Everready Energizer Bunny”. When Hope folded in 2021, she joined the Lutheran Church of the Master. Every week she attended the services at Copperfield Manor. And now today, she sings in the heavenly chorus - and probably is playing the piano.

She remembers how thrilled she was when she discovered at age 4 how she could combine notes to make a tune. When she was about 10, the church organist Vivian Johnson (who was 15 years older) gave her a few music lessons. Although she learned to read music, she preferred to play by ear. She and Vivian continued their friendship and were still playing together when Vivian was 95. Mom was overjoyed when in 5^th grade she was chosen to play for the daily morning exercises in her two-room school. She sang soprano in her high school and quartet and in the Wenonah Mothersingers from 1955 to 1966.

In the 1940’s she and Albert loved going out with friends, hearing all the big bands – the Dorsey Brothers, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Gene Krupa, Lawrence Welk, etc., and then she would come home and play their songs on the piano.

Music was also part of her many friendship circles. There was the New Year’s Gang - A group of nine couples (friends and relatives since the 1940's) who met together about four times a year celebrating New Year’s Eve, anniversaries, annual picnics, and had theme parties with great original skits. This group loved music - playing the accordion, guitar, piano, and singing together for over 50 years.

Living in the same house in the Lake Nokomis area 69 years from 1948 - 2017, she developed strong bonds with her neighbors. In the early years, there were neighborhood picnics with the young families. Later the women would get together for birthdays and joined by the husbands for parties (often with Em at the piano, Vern on the accordion, Lexie on the guitar and the rest singing).

Moving to Copperfield, she loved playing for sing-alongs and was still playing at 104. Many years ago she recorded six cassettes of herself singing and playing her favorite hymns and popular songs, in preparation for the day when only her hearing was left and that these would give her comfort. We cherish these tapes.

She enjoyed hosting family dinners and took pride in setting a beautiful table. Thanksgiving was always special, and she made the best pumpkin pies. Celebrating her Swedish heritage, Christmas was always the traditional lutfisk, Swedish sausage and rice pudding. She always looked forward to taking care of her grandchildren and spending time at Grandma’s house was something our children always enjoyed. Helping Richard’s family on his farm by Parker’s Prairie reminded her of her early farm years. When her brother’s young wife developed a brain tumor, she and Albert helped care for their two young children - Annette and Dana. Sadly, Albert died before he had grandchildren of his own.

After retiring, she participated in Nokomis Healthy Seniors for almost 20 years. Never learning to drive, she traveled by bus and enjoyed the camaraderie of her weekly grocery van trips. She participated in the U of M College of Pharmacy education program for almost 10 years.

She loved flowers - visiting the Arboretum, the Como Conservatory, grew indoor plants and had a beautiful garden in her backyard. She did lovely embroidery and crewel work. She enjoyed reading and writing letters. After taking a journal writing course in 1985, she recorded her life experiences and thoughts in a large three ring binder - two articles of which were published by the Chisago County Historical Society. She kept many scrapbooks of our family’s activities, favorite newspaper articles, and cards she received from so many people who valued her enduring friendship and support. Her lifelong bond with friends young and old serve as a role model for us.

1942-1954 family vacations were fishing at rental cabins up north. 1954 - 1971 - it was tent camping and after 1971 traveling across country in a tent trailer. 1974 she and Albert traveled three weeks in Sweden, visiting both his and her relatives - a dream fulfilled! After Albert’s sudden death in 1976, she traveled to California and with friends on 17 organized trips including Hawaii, Switzerland, Panama Canal cruise, Savannah, New York, Washington D.C., Elderhostel up north, and Branson. From 2010 - 2016 we cherished the time our families were together with her at a rental cabin.

The hardest thing about growing old was losing her longtime friends. At Copperfield she enjoyed making new friends and lived independently until August 2022. December 2022 after hospitalization she started hospice - her mobility and hearing was drastically reduced and dementia continued. July 2024, she transferred to memory care. She was very aware that she was mentally slipping and it was very distressful for her to be unable to communicate. We know she is very happy to be joining Albert and her family and friends in the heavenly choir. Throughout her life she was a great example of kindness, faith, and thinking the best of everyone and every situation. Her lifetime motto is found in Psalm 100:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

For the Lord is Good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
And his faithfulness to all generations.

Service 12:00PM Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Lutheran Church of the Master - 1200 69^th Ave N., Brooklyn Center. Visitation one hour prior. Service will be live streamed on the LCM website. Interment at Fort Snelling at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Alzheimer’s Association or Lutheran Church of the Master.