Abby Bizzett-Johnson

Abby Bizzett-Johnson, 77, passed away on July 15, 2025, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota following a lengthy illness.

Abby was born on March 4, 1948, at Perham Memorial Hospital to Floyd and Darlene (Wickham) Estlick of Basswood, MN. Abby graduated from Perham High School in 1966 and later studied History and Political Science at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, earning a degree in 1985.

An intelligent and caring woman, Abby was dedicated to making a difference through her varied endeavors, including running for state legislature in Iowa in 1988. Abby moved to Colorado in 1992, working as a management and development specialist with hospital foundations in Denver, where she was a successful fundraiser. During her years in Colorado, she also worked for numerous nonprofits and ran her own consulting business.

Abby returned to Ottertail County in 2011, after reconnecting with Jay Johnson, whom she dated in high school. They married in February of 2011 at First Baptist Church in Battle Lake. Along with Jay, Abby worked diligently to establish the Prospect House and Civil War Museum (PHM), and her contribution to its success cannot be overstated. In her position as CFO, she helped PHM become a 501(c)3 nonprofit, wrote grants, and built relationships with potential donors. Alongside the PHM Board of Directors, Abby also worked to get the Prospect House listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have a MNDOT historical marker placed on Lake Avenue.

Abby brought her impressive personal style to the fundraising events she organized for PHM, including a Mad Hatter Garden party; semi-formal afternoon teas; themed Christmas galas with live music; a barbecue dinner with a concert by bluegrass band Monroe Crossing; “Woodstack,” an annual fall music fundraiser at PHM; and more.

All of these labors of love have contributed to PHM receiving nearly a thousand visitors per year, from coast to coast and from as far away as Norway and Brazil, putting Battle Lake “on the map” for hundreds who may not have otherwise visited this beautiful area. Abby retired in 2020.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking, and baking. When younger, she had voice training to improve her already-beautiful singing voice. She enjoyed singing in church with Jay, at First Baptist in Battle Lake, Zion Lutheran in Amor, and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Fergus Falls. She was raised in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and throughout her life enjoyed participating in various Bible studies. Her strong religious faith sustained her through life’s challenges.

Abby had a great sense of style and always dressed well. One fun accessory she sported for a while was an old red convertible she bought from her step-grandson Alex. She enjoyed sightseeing, and she and Jay would often take off on local or regional road trips to explore Minnesota and the surrounding states. Abby had a very special place in her heart for her Yorkshire terrier mix Finn, a faithful and much-loved companion.

Abby is preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Darlene, sister Joan Estlick Phillips, brother Joseph Estlick, and brother-in-law Fred Carter.

She is survived by husband Jay Johnson of Battle Lake, MN; daughter Lisa Bizzett Hengel, Lakewood, Colorado; siblings Marcus Estlick, Silverton, ID; Loralee Carter (Fred), Spokane, WA; Michael Estlick (Joyce), Moscow, ID ; and Thomas Estlick (Jennifer), Richville, MN; nieces Lindsay, Anali, Molly, Jenine, Angie, and O’Ryan; nephew Jesse; step-children Chris Johnson (Tatum), Battle Lake, MN; Angela Johnson, Corvallis, OR; Julie Johnson (Paul Rausch), St. Petersburg, FL; Jeff Johnson (Lyndsey Andersen), Duluth, MN; and step-grandchildren Alex Johnson (JoAnn Schmitz), Prior Lake, MN; Lily Johnson, Shakopee, MN; and Lu Cross, Corvallis, OR.

Abby will be laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery in Richville, MN. A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Battle Lake on Sunday, August 3rd at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the family to cover funeral expenses:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-abby-a-life-of-compassion

OR The Johnson Family, 401 N. Lake Ave., Battle Lake, MN 56515