Ramona Alena Johnson Was born on November 14, 1951 in Two Rivers Wisconsin. She was the second child to parents Bonnie & Elmer Johnson. In 1953 The Johnsons experienced the sudden and unfortunate passing of their oldest child Jimmy. In the following years Mona would become older Sister to 3 girls (Barb, Maxine and Cathleen) and 2 boys (Matt and Ed). With Mona leading the way this was bound to be a life of frustration and chaos (actually FUN and Adventure) for Bonnie & Elmer! For anyone that knew Mona, fun and adventure followed her where ever she went.
The Johnsons moved from Two Rivers Wisconsin to Blaine Minnesota in 1955. Mona started kindergarten in 1953 at Johnsville Elementary School. It wasn't long before her gift for detail and artistic talented was noticed. Her kindergarten teacher had all the students draw a picture of a person. While the majority of the class drew stick figures Mona drew a full figure of a person including clothing and detail all the way down to cuff links in the sleeves.
Being the oldest Mona took on the roll of "PROTECTOR" of all of her younger siblings. It has been rumored that Mona even went as far as physically pursuading kids (beating up girls AND BOYS) from messing with her Sisters, Brothers and close friends.
Growing up through grade School Mona had a close core of very good friends. Her main posse consisted of Chris Paulson, Dona Mistelski and Teri Moore. Because I am her younger Brother of 12 years I didn't get to witness many of the stories I have heard, nor have they been confirmed or denied, but when I get verification of any of them I will add them here. I have heard about the 100 twin drive in, washing your hair with beer, a green Thunderbird, BOYS, Chevrolet station wagons and so on. Be sure to check back often as this part will get better as any of the people involved will share details with me!
Mona was known well for her cooking skills (or more for the lack of). My earliest experience was in the late 70's. I was visiting her at her home in Chaska and she had prepared breakfast. As I was eating my homemade hashbrowns I bit into a hard substance and proceded to pull out a fingernail from my mouth. I showed it to her and she exclaimed "I was wondering why I was missing a fingernail after shredding the potatos"! From then on she was known as "Betty Crocker" and no one was safe when she was in the kitchen.
Once she was making a cake and forgot to add the flour into the batter so while it was baking she just sprinkled it on the top. Just guess at how that turned out.
Another time she made a lunch for someone to take to work. What could go wrong with a sandwich and soup? Well the sandwich turned out good but when he reached the bottom of the soup crock there was a brillo pad left in from the previous cleaning. YUM!!!
The first time my wife Kelly was going to meet her we drove to her house for dinner. All the way there I kept explaining to her that "Mona isn't known for her cooking so if you would like to stop and eat before we get there, we can". She said "no, how bad can she be?". When we arrived Mona met us in the driveway with her usual smile and cheer. As we walked towards the door she said "Watch out, step over the dessert". The pie which was to be our dessert had been dropped and was laying on the cement walkway leading to the door. Kelly never doubted me again.
Of all of these cooking stories (trust me these are not all of them) the greatest thing of all is that Mona got the best laugh out of them! Here's to you Betty Crocker!!!
Mona was very adventurous. She loved to travel and to try new things. Other than her love for art and teaching students I think she became a teacher because she got to have the summer off. In her early years of teaching she would take off travelling just after school let out and return just before school resumed.
She back packed around Europe one Summer. Many other Summers were spent traveling throughout the US. Please share a story of these travals in the "Memories" section of this web site if you can.
Her later years were spent traveling around to car shows. I heard many stories of the great people she had met and the fun times she had. I know that she had many dear friends in both the MSRA and the NSRA. Feel free to share your personal memories with us all on this web site.
More to come.....
Education:
1957 - 1970 K-12 Various Schools in Blaine and Coon Rapids MN
1971 - 1974 Univ of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, B.A.
1972 - 1975 Univ of Minnesota College of Education, B.S.
2002 Univ of Wisconsin, Stout
2004 Univ of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
2006 Univ of La Verne, California
1998 - 2006 Univ of River Falls, Wisconsin College of Education, M.S.E (Master of Science Education in Art)
Teaching history:
1975 - 1977 Onamia, MN Art Teacher (Grade 7-12)
Art Club Instructor
1977 - 1981 Excelsior, MN Art Teacher (grade 7-9)
1981 - 1987 Shakopee, MN Art Teacher (grade 7-9)
Year Book Advisor
President of Teachers Union
1987 - 1989 Prior Lake, MN Art Teacher (grade 6-8)
CRISIS Team Member
Art Curriculum Coordinator, K-12
High Potential Committee
1992 - 1993 Substitute Teaching:
Glenwood City, WI
Shakopee, MN
Prior Lake, MN
1992 - 2007 Elk Mound, WI Art Teacher (grade 6-12)
Class Adviser
-More to come...
