Barbara Maye Johnson

Barbara “Barb” Maye Johnson, age 91, of Willmar, entered into eternal life with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, at the Willmar Assembly of God Church with visitation 1 hour prior to services. All memorials will be given to RV MAPS (Mission America Placement Service) or Lake Geneva Christian Center, two ministries that held a special place in Barb’s heart.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

A loving wife, nurturing mother, and faithful servant, Barb was born on August 27, 1935, in Onawa, Iowa to George and Dorothy (Kruger) Otten.

On July 10, 1954, Barb married Jonathan Johnson, and together they built a life centered around faith, family, and lifelong friendships. Barb and Jonny raised four children and delighted in watching their family grow to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Barb loved to entertain and took great pleasure in creating a warm and welcoming home. Nothing brought her greater joy than her family gathered around a beautifully set table, sharing a meal and simply enjoying being together.

Barb’s faith was a cornerstone of her life. At a young age, she accepted the Lord as her Savior and began a lifelong journey of faith. As a member of the Willmar Assembly of God, she taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, volunteered in the church kitchen, and shared her nurturing spirit with children and young families through the nursery and cradle roll ministry. Later in life, Barb and Jonny continued that spirit of service through their involvement with RV MAPS (Mission America Placement Service), working in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Missouri, and at Lake Geneva Bible Camp.

Barb is survived by her four children: Lee (the late Adele) Johnson of Willmar, Ron (Connie) Johnson of Alexandria, LaRae (Darrell) Gravley of Anoka, and Rita (Warren) Carlson of Kerkhoven. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, brother-in-law David (LaDonna) Johnson of Minneapolis, many nieces and nephews and her special family friends Jerry and Janet Edwards of Edmond, Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jonathan in 2012, her parents, her brother Byron, and her daughter-in-law Adele Johnson.