A Funeral Services for Clara O. Johnson of Roseau, MN will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 10:00AM at the Light House Church in Roseau, MN. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN with a Service of Remembrance at 7PM.
Clara Olise (Kompelien) Johnson, 94, went home to be with her Lord July 3, 2025, in the early evening hours at LifeCare Roseau Manor.
Clara was born on May 13, 1931, to Christ and Elsie (Mostal) Kompelien in her grandparent’s home north of Roseau in Dieter Township. Clara had one sister, Helen (Mrs. Waldmar Lindgren). Clara and Helen were inseparable until Helen’s death at the age of 76 years on January 5, 2000.
Clara graduated from Roseau High School in 1949. She attended teacher’s training in Thief River Falls for one year. Later, Clara attended Bemidji State College, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. She taught for six years at the Haug-Leo Country School, located north of Greenbush, Minnesota. She began her career at Roseau Elementary School in 1956 as a first-grade instructor. Over the course of her profession, she primarily taught kindergarten, retiring in 1986.
Clara loved her students and enjoyed visiting them whenever she saw them. She was quick to indicate she had taught the individual in kindergarten and was always interested in hearing about their current activities.
Clara received her engagement ring from the love of her life, Harvey L. Johnson, at Christmas time in 1955. Harvey and Clara were married August 25, 1956, at the Moe Lutheran Church in Roseau, Minnesota. They had been neighbors and elementary schoolmates in Pinecreek, Dieter Township, north of Roseau, MN. Both loved animals having owned a number of dogs with the same names Lucky and CeeCee during their lifetime. Clara and Harvey worked hard in starting the Roseau Free Lutheran Church and were charter members. Clara was an active member. She would spend hours creating bulletin boards for the church entry, decorating tables, serving as a church officer, a member of the Gleaners Ladies Group, and much more. Her devotion and firm belief in God gave her strength and comfort.
Following retirement, Clara and Harvey spent winters in Texas and Arizona. There they made many long-time friends. They enjoyed their cabin on Minnesota Hill, boating and fishing on Lake of the Woods, camping, traveling, and snowmobiling. Harvey passed away in October 2010 at the age of eighty-five.
Clara was known for her exceptional hospitality, welcoming visitors and ensuring they had coffee and refreshments before they left her home. She regularly hosted meals for friends and family, thoughtfully preparing and serving dishes such as her well-known fruit soup and brown bread, with a menu often reminiscent of a Thanksgiving dinner.
Clara was known for her loyalty, warmth, compassion, and sophistication, with her humor frequently displayed during her Scandinavian performances. Her kindness left a strong impression on everyone she encountered, making students, colleagues, family members, and friends feel appreciated and respected.
Clara was strong and independent, determined to have things the way she wanted. This enabled Clara to live in her own home until she moved to LifeCare Roseau Manor, at the age of 93 years and 11 months, on April 11, 2025.
Clara enjoyed good health and happiness throughout her life and maintained close relationships with many relatives and friends. She is survived by numerous loved ones, including godchildren, cousins, her dog CeeCee, and several close friends, among them Alyce Lund Schmitke and Trish Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Harvey, her parents, infant sister Lizzie Christine Kompelien, sister Helen, and brother-in-law Wally Lindgren.
Clara’s legacy lives on through her lasting friendships and shared experiences.
God bless her memory.
Last modified: 07/07/2025
