Carol Johannessen

To view a live stream of Carol's funeral please follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/orlc.benson

Carol Johannessen, of Benson, died on Friday afternoon, March 3, 2023, at Amira Choice Senior Living in Plymouth, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 9:30 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am. Interment will be in the Benson City Cemetery at a later date. Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Carol Johannessen was born on April 6, 1932, in Benson, Minnesota the daughter of Raymond Leon and Evelyn Emma (Pedlar) Tollefson. She was baptized on October 28, 1932, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Benson and confirmed there on June 6, 1947. She grew up and attended school in Benson.

While working as a cashier at the Benson Bakery Carol met Jerry Johannessen. On November 14, 1949, Carol was united in marriage to Jerome Johannessen in South Dakota. They made their home in Benson where they owned and operated the Benson Bakery and Café. This union was blessed with over 68 years of marriage and seven incredibly lucky children.

Carol was a member of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and participating in a Wednesday morning ladies golf league.  She loved playing cards, especially Whist and Dizzy, and was known to stay up late on Christmas Eve to finish a good card game.  Carol liked entertaining and loved being the house where all her children’s friends wanted to spend time. Although reading a well-written mystery book was one of her favorite pastimes, nothing could take the place of an evening out dancing with her dance partner Jerry.  Together they also looked forward to traveling making Mazatlán, Mexico, one of their favorite destinations where Carol relished the opportunity to teach English to students in Mexico. She loved time spent with family and friends, especially when everyone gathered at the lake. She was called from this life on Friday, March 3, 2023, at Amira Choice Senior Living in Plymouth, Minnesota surrounded by family and friends. She attained the age of 90 years, 11 months, and 3 days.

Carol is survived by her children: Kim Johannessen (Bonnie), Cynthia Thronson, Toby Johannessen (Deb), Melissa Johannessen-Janzen (Jeff), and Debbie Johannessen (daughter-in-law); grandchildren: Brooke Amundson, Dana Amundson (Cindy), Kelly Majkozak (Robert), Ramon Johannessen (Hope), Adrian Johannessen-Hawkins (Maipacher), Dominique Johannessen-Hawkins (Brair), Tonya Johannessen  (Jake Huston, fiancé), Ebony Johannessen-Hawkins, Alexis Johannessen, Eva Johannessen, Rae Johannessen, and Tess Johannessen; great-grandchildren: Austin, Logan, and Hailey Amundson, Joey Schutz, Grayson, Levi, and Charlie Majkozak, Autumn, Adelyn, Aynsley, Amelia, and Aiden Johannessen, Joe, Judd, and Easton Huston, Elijah, Ariel and Ezekiel Johanessen-Hawkins, and Porter and Onyx Hawkins : brothers; Richard Tollefson, Doug Tollefson, and Gale (Pat) Tollefson; sisters June Muetzel (Larry) and Vonnie Comp, and nieces, nephews, and several other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Jerome (Jerry) Johannessen on January 8, 2018; sons Dale & Gary, daughter Gay Amundson, brother Glen (Judy) Tollefson, sisters-in-law Rose Tollefson and Judy Tollefson, and brother-in-law Dex Comp and son-in-law Jon Thronson. Blessed be her memory.