Karla Johnson

Karla Louise Johnson was born on October 27, 1948 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit Lakes, to

Gordon H and Jean A (Pettersen) Goepferd. She resided in Detroit Lakes throughout her early

life where she was baptised and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran and graduated with the

“awesome class of DLHS 1966.” Karla attended Moorhead State University for a short time

before transitioning to working at Cambridge State Hospital in Cambridge, MN. From there she

moved to the Twin Cities where she worked at the Suburban Engineering office for

Northwestern Bell. She met the love of her life, Richard “Rick” L. Johnson in May and they were

married on September 23, 1972. From their love they had two daughters, Andrea and April.

The family moved to Osakis, MN in 1976 where Karla was a Nationally Registered EMT. While

living in Osakis, life-long friends were made. In 1981, the family moved to Fergus Falls where

they raised their children and resided until both Rick and Karla’s deaths. Karla began working at

the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center (RTC) after taking time at home during her

children’s formative years. She held many positions in her over 20 years at the RTC, retiring in

2003.

Karla had numerous interests during her lifetime. She was an avid card maker; making greeting

cards for all occasions. She enjoyed listening to a variety of music and loved to dance

wherever, whenever, and with whomever. Karla enjoyed attending sporting events, craft fairs,

concerts, and plays. Karla took fun trips with her immediate family, and more recently with her

extended family and friends. Although she did not enjoy flying, with skittles in hand, she made it to destinations where she enjoyed spending time touring, visiting, and people watching.

Karla was known to be one of the most caring and helpful humans. She volunteered her time at blood banks and delivering food to people in need. She has saved lives; even being rewarded

for saving a choking victim at a public restaurant. She was the first one to step up and offer

assistance in watching others’ children, cutting hair, sewing/altering/creating garments, quilts,

etc, labor coach, and any other requests that come her way. She loves her friends and family

intensely. Karla has deep-rooted friendships with her Tuesday morning coffee group of retired

RTC employees and with her class of ‘66 monthly lunches and numerous reunions. As she

would say, these friendships are now family members. On Saturday, April 25th, Karla passed away peacefully in her home, at the age of 77.

Karla is preceded in death by her husband Richard L Johnson, parents’ Gordon and Jean

Goepferd, parents-in-law, and niece Lara Goepferd. She is survived by her daughters Andrea

(Mark) Nelson and April Johnson, along with her granddaughter, Brianne Zachary. She is also

survived by her brothers Ivan Goepferd, Collin (Linda) Goepferd; sisters Meredith (Dan) Weiby,

Heidi (Reggie) Schwartz, and sister-in-law Kim (Bill) Henrickson. Karla also highly cherished her

nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and many Godchildren.

In lieu of flowers donations to Hearts In Action Hospice and the Fergus Falls Food shelf.