Rhoda Johnson

MALTA — Rhoda Johnson, 92, a homemaker, passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Hi-Line Retirement Center following a brief illness.

The family will receive friends at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 8, at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, March 9, at the Malta Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. Memorials if desired may be given to Malta Lutheran Church, Elim Lutheran Church or the Gideons. Condolences to the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Rhoda was born February 13, 1926, to Charles and Ada (Munson) Jacobs of Wolf Point, Mont. She was raised on the family farm near the Vida community and attended a local country school, she enjoyed sharing those early days stories. Rhoda graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1943 and then graduated from Northern Montana College in Havre. She was employed by the Malta Irrigation District for eight years. She and Bud Johnson met at a young people’s community social. Their first date was in Bud’s homemade rowboat on Nelson Reservoir.

August 7, 1953, was their wedding date and the couple resided at the family farm southeast of Malta thereafter. Rhoda was an equal partner to Bud in their farming and ranching endeavors, driving tractor, grain truck, working cattle and whatever project needed to be done. Rhoda enjoyed being a part of the Phillips County WIFE group, Phillips County CattleWomen, the ladies group of the Malta Lutheran Church and Elim Lutheran Brethren Church, was an election judge and served on other boards as well. Rhoda obtained her pilot’s license after Bud did and enjoyed flying and looking over the countryside with him and was a member of the women’s flying group, “The 99’s”. She and Julia Cebulski came in third place in a statewide cross-country flying contest in the 1960’s. She also enjoyed handiwork of many kinds and usually had an ongoing project, especially for Lutheran World Relief and others less fortunate.

Rhoda is survived by her husband Bud of 64 years, sons Charles and Raymond, daughter Ruth (Bill) Mitchell and grandchildren Katie and Kyle Mitchell. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Ada Jacobs, and her brother Howard.

Rhoda always believed in doing a little bit extra and truly had a kind heart for all people. Rhoda truly loved the country life and in later years enjoyed sitting by the big picture window with the sun on her back watching whatever was going on outside.