Obituary of Marylee Martig Johnson

Marylee Martig Johnson died peacefully at home in St. Paul, Minnesota on December 2nd at the age of 72. Marylee is survived by her husband Ted Johnson; sons Nate Johnson (his daughter Stella and her mom Tanya Phillips) and Ted and Sonya Johnson (and their children Noah and Paige); sisters Karen and husband Curt Swenson and Evie and her husband Bill Donald; many nieces and nephews; and family friends Lisa, Andre, and Vaughn Phillips. She is preceded in death by parents, Leo and Lavina Martig, and sister, Joanne Trainor. Marylee was born April 3rd 1944 in Red Wing MN and grew up on a dairy farm in Berne, Minnesota reminiscent of her ancestral dairy farm in Bern, Switzerland. She loved the foods and traditions of the land and carried them with her into her own kitchen. She attended a one room country school through grade six and then finished her schooling at West Concord High School. She received her degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from the University of Minnesota, and her Masters in Gifted and Talented Education from the University of St. Thomas. Both of these degrees were put to good use in her long and energetic teaching career, challenging all students with her own unique brand of intellectual curiosity. She married her husband, Ted, in 1970 who she met while at the University. They reconnected after Ted returned from military service. At the time she was teaching at John Marshall High School in Rochester and Ted started a new teaching job in Roseville, MN. This was a beginning of a professional and personal collaboration that was dynamic and filled with the most energizing and supportive love. After Marylee and Ted were reunited she taught at Irondale High School in the Mounds View School District. Together they raised two fine sons, who have followed in their footsteps of committed educators and devoted parents. Once her children were in upper elementary school she renewed her teaching career at Central High School in St Paul and taught there until her retirement. Humor, energy and joy were ever-present in the Johnson home as well as shared with Marylee's enthusiastic and devoted sisters and their extended families. Marylee's intellect and humor, compassion and joy of living, attracted many friends and colleagues who have remained life-long members of her Family of Friends. She will be missed, but will continue to inspire all those, who loved her and were touched by her unique and powerful joy. A memorial service will be held at St Paul Reformation Lutheran Church located at 100 North Oxford in St Paul. Service will be on Monday, December 12th with visitation at 11:00 Service at 12:00. Any gifts should be given to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA). You may also leave the donation at the church.