ELLA M. JOHNSON

Ella Margaret Johnson of Stella, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn, NE.  She was born on July 2, 1933 to the late George and Laura (Hunzeker) Meister.  
   She was raised on a farm south of Humboldt, with six siblings.  Ella attended the Dry Branch country school through 8th grade and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1950.  She taught two years of country school and one year in Humboldt Elementary School while attending Peru St. College.  She received her degree in 1955 and taught one year in Omaha at Washington Elementary School.
   She married Jim Johnson in 1956 and moved to the beloved farm south of Stella that she called home for the past 60 years.  She raised her three children while also working at the State Bank of Stella for 27 years, retiring in 1998.
   Ella is survived by her spouse, Jim Johnson; daughters Cindy Valenti, Loretta Johnson; son Chris Johnson (Patty); granddaughters Jenny Gautier, Katie Shearer (Mark), great-grandchildren Owen and Nora all of Omaha; sisters Ruth Lienemann of Papillion and Dorothy Farrow (Earl) of Long Beach, CA; brothers David Meister of DuBois, and Ray Meister (Myrna) of Fremont, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.  
     She was preceded in death by parents George and Laura (Hunzeker) Meister, and sisters Mary and Jean.
   A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, 10:30 a.m. at the Stella Community Church in Stella.  Burial of ashes will follow in the Stella Cemetery.
   Memorials will be directed by the family.
   Services are entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.