LaDonna Joy Johnson was born in Sisseton, South Dakota, February 10, 1951, to Lester and Gladys (German) Johnson. She was the ninth of 11 children born to this family. She spent her first 10 years living on the family farm near Peever, attending a country school until her father passed away when she was 10 years old. She and the family remaining at home moved to Sisseton for a short time before moving to Watertown. There she attended junior and senior high school and graduated in 1969.
During
her freshman year of high school, her sister Joan and husband Dan
McGraw accepted the pastorate of First Assembly of God in Hill City,
Kansas. LaDonna, her mother, and some of her siblings visited Hill City
in the fall of that year. They attended church service at Hill City
First. It was there that LaDonna caught the eye and attention of the one
she would one day marry. There were many young people attending
service, so she knew nothing about him at that point in time, but he
certainly kept his eye on her. LaDonna came to Hill City for several
weeks during the summer between her freshman and sophomore year of high
school. It was during this time that the connection with Jerry Gano was
made, and dating began. Visits to Hill City were a two or three times
per year event for LaDonna and her family. The visits were always
welcomed by her soon-to-be suitor.
Her plans after
graduation were to attend Trinity Bible School in North Dakota. Jerry,
knowing what happens to most girls attending Bible School resulted in
finding a husband. He decided that he should also attend Bible School to
in part protect his “investment." These years were the start of a true
and genuine love story that God wove into the tapestry of their lives.
July 10, 1970, Jerry Gano proposed to LaDonna Joy Johnson and plans for a
wedding were initiated. March 20, 1971, Jerry and LaDonna were united
in marriage in Watertown. Their two sons were born in Watertown: Jamie
Gordon and Jared David. The family lived in Watertown until they moved
from South Dakota to Jerry’s hometown of Hill City in 1976. In late 1976
construction of their current home began, and they moved into their new
home mid-May 1977. Two days later, Jolyn Joy Gano was born.
As her children started school, LaDonna worked as a cook in the Hill City Grade School and worked there until Jolyn graduated from high school. She retired at that time and concentrated on the home and family. She cooked for many church camps in Wichita and for Woodston Family Camp for 19 years. She also baked cookies for local Christmas open houses and loved the opportunity to do so. Her love of family was evident in nearly all that she did. The house was full of her children and their friends, thenlater grandchildren and their friends. LaDonna loved this activity and welcomed it with open arms and lots of snacks and food.
Jerry and LaDonna were fortunate enough to travel significantly during their nearly 52 years of marriage. Perhaps the most memorable was a trip to India with First Love Ministries to visit the orphanages and girls that they supported. There they celebrated LaDonna’s birthday with multiple cakes and received a very special henna from the girls at one of the orphanages. LaDonna and Jerry were able to spend Valentine’s Day in Paris on the way home. LaDonna also traveled to Peru with Jerry to minister to the churches in the Amazon Rain Forest. In addition, they traveled to almost every state in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Canada. In the summer of 2021, the immediate family spent a week in Branson, Missouri to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. This was something that LaDonna had wanted for some time and her family was thankful to see it happen. LaDonna and Jerry attended many Southern Gospel Concerts, the music of heaven, over the years with their favorites being the Spring and Fall Praisefest in Branson.
LaDonna was preceded in death by her parents Lester and Gladys (German) Johnson; brothers Arden Johnson (Berdine), and Dwayne Johnson (Shirley); and infant sister Glenda Johnson. She is survived by husband Jerry of Hill City, son Jamie and granddaughter Josselyn, of Lyndon; son Jared and spouse Nikki and granddaughters Kaela, Sophie, and Jozi of Hutchinson; and daughter Reverend Jolyn Mauck and husband Brandon and granddaughters Katie and Kamryn and grandson Kason, Hill City. Surviving siblings are sisters LaVonne Erickson of Breckenridge, Minnesota, Joan (Dan) McGraw of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Bonnie Voelsch of Watertown, South Dakota, Judy (Myron) Moen of Brookings, South Dakota, and Linda Halling of Watertown, South Dakota. Surviving brothers are Lonnie (Kathy) Johnson of Oneida, Wisconsin, and Donnie Johnson of Watertown, South Dakota.
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