Mary Laurine Johnson, 89, of Wichita, Kansas, died of complications from her lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease Monday, March 21, at the Lifecare Center of Wichita, where she had been a resident since 2001. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 26, 2005 at the Church of Assumption in Churchville, Iowa, of which she was a lifelong member. Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Churchville.

Mrs. Johnson was born July 7, 1915, in Nazareth, Texas, to Steven and Margaret Hoelting. The family moved to the DeSoto area when she was young. After graduating from high school, she was a teacher prior to being united in marriage to Robert F. Johnson on September 11, 1939. Shortly after they moved to Churchville.

She was a homemaker and mother to their eight children. After her husband's death in 1959, she began her 20-year career at Des Moines' Mercy Hospital as a dietician's assistant, retiring in 1980.

She is survived by seven sons, Steve (Louise) of Indianola, Joe (Janice) of Bull Shoals, Arkansas, Matt (Janice) of Kasilof, Alaska, Bob (Bonnie) of Independence, Missouri, Greg (Charlotte) of Wichita, Kansas, Mike (Bonnie) of Cottage Grove, Oregon, and Ray (Bev) of Greyling, Michigan; one sister, Alice (Sam) Gault of Oklahoma City, 21 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; only daughter, Rita Patricia Hill; sister, Rita Fraser; brother, Robert Hoelting who was killed during WWII; and, in 1974, newborn grandson, Jason Robert.

Visitation will be from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 25 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola where family will be present from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. to greet friends.