June Johnson

June Lavon (Weiland) Johnson, 80, passed away peacefully at the Valley View Care Center in Greene on December 10, 2021 with her children Lana, Nathan, Rodney and daughter-in-law, Judy by her side by her side after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.

On January 27, 1941, June was born to John R. and Dorothy (Allan) Weiland on her parent’s farm north of Bristow. From the time she was little she developed her life-long skills of gardening, baking, sewing and excellent work ethic from her parents and 4-H. To this day, June is known for her famous cinnamon rolls, pies, bountiful gardens, and beautiful flowers.

June started her education at Bennezette #7 Country School, down the road from her home. She went to Bristow for Junior High and Greene for High School graduating in 1959. In her senior year she was in the Homecoming Queen Court and was elected Band Queen to represent Greene at the Mason City Band Festival. The summer after graduation she was candidate for Butler County Dairy Princess at the fair and started working for Shepard Law Firm in Allison.

On June 24, 1961, June married Gary Leon Smith of Bristow and they were blessed with three children. During this marriage they enjoyed the great outdoors, snowmobiling, fishing, camping, and lots of picnics with their friends and families. After their children were all school, June began working full-time with the law firm in Greene, bookkeeper for Nixt Candle Shop and then bookkeeper for the Packard Elevator. Gary later preceded her in death.

On July 15, 1978 June married Dale Johnson of Greene, with this marriage June took on the role of raising Dale’s children Ann and Craig. She was a busy lady, still working full-time and juggling her bigger family’s daily routines.

Years later June and Dale moved into her parent’s home in Greene on Traer Street after John and Doroty had passed away. Being at the Packard Elevator for a little over 30 years, June decided to retire! She was able to spend more time with her friends, sometimes just catching up over coffee and ‘goodies.’

One of her favorite things was going to her grandchildren’s school and sports activities. She did say, however, she ‘dearly missed her coworkers, farmer friends and their families around the area after all those years at the elevator.’

June and Dale took a few bus trips through the United States, her most memorable trip was out east to see the famous cherry blossoms in bloom. She continued to have her garden and flower beds to keep busy saying sometimes she enjoyed just having ‘June time,’ especially kicking up her legs on the patio to read a good book or ‘Better Homes and Gardens.”

The past few years her joy was watching great-grandson Payton’s sports careers, including being able to see three of four state football championships at Viking Stadium in Minneapolis. In her last months, unable to attend his college football games, she watched them online, continuing to be one of his biggest cheerleaders.

Surviving family members include husband, Dale, of Greene; daughter Lana (Ken) Herman, LaPorte City; sons: Nathan (Judy) Smith, Waukee and Rodney Smith, Johnston; step-daughter Ann (Dave) Marsh, Chanhassen, Minnesota; step-son Craig (Anne) Johnson, Walnut, Illinois; sister Sharon Agnitsch and niece Krista Benson, Glenwood; sisters-in-law Lucille Whitehead, Cedar Falls with nieces Ellen, Jane and Sara; Karen Johnson, Chicago and previous sister-in-law: Jacky Worley, Greene; Grandchildren Stacey (Shay) Mahoney, Christopher (Rachael) Franken, Alissa Clark, Daniel Marsh, Laura (Nick) Badovinac, Connor Smith, Gage Smith, Alex Johnson, Ellen Johnson and Adam Johnson; great-grandchildren Payton Schott, William Mahoney, Charli Mahoney and Luke Badovinac.

June is preceded in death by her parents John and Dorothy Weiland, first husband Gary Smith, in-laws Basil and Ellen Johnson and nephew Kevin Agnitsch.