Hilma E. Johnson, 92, of Blair, passed away on November 11, 2016 at the Pigeon Falls Health Care Center, Pigeon Falls, WI.

Hilma was born at home on March 11, 1924 in Oma Township, Iron County, WI to Matti and Hilma (Kokkoniemi) Annala. She attended a one room school as a child and graduated from Hurley Lincoln High School, Hurley, WI. After working briefly in Superior, WI she moved to Detroit, MI to work for the United States Air Force. She attended the University of Michigan, School of Engineering, Ann Arbor for training and placed at the A. O. Smith Company, Milwaukee, WI to inspect the landing gear on B24 airplanes during World War II.

After the war she attended Gogebic Junior College in Ironwood, MI and transferred to University of WI, Madison, where she met her future husband. They both graduated in 1949. After an internship in Chicago, IL she married Richard Johnson on November 12, 1949 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison, WI. They lived in Mondovi and Gilmanton, WI before moving to Blair, WI. She worked the farm and ran an egg distribution business with her husband for many years. She also worked for the United States Postal Service in Blair and La Crosse, WI, retiring in 1991.

Richard preceded Hilma in death on September 3, 2014. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her 8 brothers, and 3 sisters.

She is survived by her son, Duane Johnson of Madison, WI; her daughters, Sharon Johnson of Mendota Heights, MN, Carol Johnson of Mount Horeb, WI and Beth (Michael) Bradley of Sauk City, WI; her grandchildren, Cassie, Emily, Teresa, Mathew and Sara Bradley of Sauk City, WI; and several nieces and nephews.

Hilma volunteered for several community organizations, including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, hospice care and as Legion Auxiliary president. She was also active in her church as a Sunday school and vacation bible school teacher, on the church council, presided over the WELCA, and as a member of the Synod Council in the La Crosse Synod. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, travel, cooking, and doing needlework and several other crafts. She was proud of her Finnish heritage and Finnish Sisu, and never drank "dry coffee".

Funeral services will be held November 17, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Blair Lutheran Church West, Blair, WI with burial in the church cemetery. Pastor Barbara Bruneau will officiate.

Visitation will be held an hour before the service.

The Jack Funeral Home in Blair is assisting the family with arrangements.