Helen M. Johnson

Helen Johnson ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Grandstrand Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Lindstrom on Mar. 16, 2026.Helen (Thiede) Johnson was born on July 11, 1948, to Gilbert and Margaret (Moe) Thiede in Columbus, Wisconsin. Helen passed away at her home in rural New Richmond, Wisconsin on Monday, March 16, 2026, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with colon cancer.Helen spent her childhood on the family dairy farm. Helen graduated from Columbus High School in 1966. She briefly attended UW Madison and then moved to Milwaukee and attended Patricia Steven's Talent School. Upon moving back to Madison, Helen and her roommates held a party in their apartment across from Camp Randall football stadium in May 1970. It was there she met Timm Johnson and shortly after they started dating and were married on August 26, 1972.On April 1st, 1973, they purchased their dairy farm. They remodeled, expanded, and operated a typical Wisconsin dairy farm. They started a family and Helen became active as a Sunday School teacher at West Immanuel Lutheran Church, served on their church council and became a 4-H leader for the Forest View 4-H Club. Helen had a positive impact on countless young people as arts & craft leader, dairy leader, softball coach, and general leader. Helen served on the Alden Town Board, was the Chief Inspector of elections for Alden, served for 20 plus years on the Osceola Area Ambulance Board, and created countless table decorations for Servant Hall at West Immanuel. Helen also managed the entries and exhibits for the Osceola Community Fair. She offered to update the entry list to a fair board member and ended up with the role for 40 years.Helen had several passions in her life. Her family, flowers, Packers, Badgers, and Brewers were some of her favorites. It depended on what season it was and once commented that her car would automatically turn into a nursery for flowers. Helen liked to travel and was proud she visited all 50 states. She enjoyed many road trips to Florida and San Diego and several National Parks.Of all of Helen's accomplishments, she was most proud of her grandsons, Zander and Xavier. She willingly jumped on a plane to San Diego at last minutes notice, never missed a birthday, adopted pigs and chickens each summer they came to visit and proudly taught them to drive.Helen is survived by her husband Timm Johnson, daughters Courtney (Scott) Sprecher and Melissa Johnson, grandsons Zander and Xavier King, sisters Rinda Taber and Marll Thiede, brother-in-law Ted (Gretchen) Johnson and sister-in-law Nancy (Dan) McElfresh, numerous nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her parents Gilbert and Margaret Thiede, son-in-law Gregg King, brother-in-law Robert Taber, and father and mother-in-law Reuben and Norma Johnson.Per Helen's request, she did not want a funeral but did agree to a celebration of life party at our farm. Details will be announced later.The family would like to thank Osceola Medical Center Oncology team and the Adoray Home Health & Hospice team for their thoughtful care.If you would like to donate in her memory, please make it to either the Osceola Area Ambulance Service or West Immanuel Lutheran Church. Or simply, do something nice for someone in Helen's honor.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.