Erlene A. (Pierson) Johnson

Erlene A. (Pierson) Johnson, born on November 12, 1931, in Amery, WI, passed away August 29, 2023, at Amery Hospital. She was 91 years young. She was the only child of Ernest and AnnaBelle (Martin) Pierson.

Erlene was diagnosed with myloplastic syndrome in 2012 which suddenly advanced to acute myeloid leukemia.

She graduated from Balsam Lake High School in May 1949. She started working at Kenwood Phone Company with her best friend Marie. She graduated from Polk County Teachers College in Frederic, WI in June 1967, and taught 2nd grade at Centuria Elementary School. She then graduated from the University of Wisconsin River Falls with a bachelor's degree of science in Elementary Education in August 1972. She received a senior “Gold R” award for academic achievement. She then finished her Master of Science in education in November 1976 at UW River Falls. She taught at Unity School for  many years.

She married her high school sweetheart, Wendle E. Johnson, in February 1950. They were together for 64 years, until his passing in August 2014. They were residents of Balsam Lake, Centuria, and back to Balsam Lake. From that union, they had three children, a son, Lynn (deceased 2022), and daughters, Cindy, and Sandra.

Erlene was active in her community. She held several offices in the American Legion Auxiliary and the Holy Trinity United Methodist Church. She was also a lifetime member of the WI Education Association.

Her passions were traveling, playing cards, golf, bowling, flowers, and breakfast with friends.

She is survived by her beloved daughters, Cindy Hallberg, and Sandra (Gregory) Minton, grandchildren, Terri, Kelly, Benjamin, Anna, McLain, Kyle, and Montana, many great-grandchildren and other family and friends.  She was preceded by her parents, Ernest and AnnaBelle Pierson, husband, Wendle, and son, Lynn.

Visitation for Erlene will be held on Monday, September 4, 2023, at the Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Centuria from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. and again on Tuesday, September 5, at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M.  Service will be at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Steve Rice officiating and Priscilla Fjorden providing music.  Please join the family for lunch immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Erlene will be laid to rest at the Balsam Lake Cemetery following the luncheon.  Casket Bearers will be Austin Hallberg, Ben Hallberg, Mclain Minton, Kyle Minton, Montana Minton, and Greg Minton.

She will be greatly missed by her loving family and her many, many friends.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.