January 2, 1930 - July 4, 2025
Helena Wittmann Johnson
January 2, 1930 - July 4, 2025
Helen was born in Ubstadt, Germany and was youngest of 3 children to Emma (née Frey) and Friedrich Wittmann who were farmers in the small town in southwest Germany.
She immigrated to the United States in 1952 and lived with her brother, Fritz, in Buffalo, NY. She worked as a housekeeper for a wealthy family that owned the American Steamship Co. While there, she would frequently take trips on the Great Lakes with the owners wife. She met her husband to be, Fred, on the SS Druckenmiller in Two Harbors, MN on an overnight stop for repairs. They married soon thereafter in 1959 and moved to Minneapolis, MN, to start their beautiful life together.
In 1966 they bought a new home on Girard avenue in Richfield and raised a family that she was so proud of. She was active in all of Linda and Tim's sports and interests outside of school. Helen worked at Woodlake Cleaners for more than 40 years. She was well known by many of her customers, with some becoming lifelong friends. She would regularly take trips back home to Germany and stay with her sister, Liesel, and visit family and friends.
Helen loved her family above all else, especially her 3 granddaughters, Julia, Nicole and Kate. Her favorite things were cooking German dishes (her German potato salad was well known!), gardening, going for walks at Wood Lake Nature Center and baby sitting her granddaughters.
Helen was a loving, caring and supportive wife, mother, and grandmother. She was kind to everyone that knew her, and we will all miss her beautiful, kind and gentle soul.
Survived by her son, Tim Johnson; daughter, Linda (Steve) Mertens; grandchildren, Julia, Nicole, Katharine and nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her mother and father, Emma and Friedrich Wittmann; husband, Fred; sister, Elizabeth "Liesel"; and brother, Friedrich “Fritz”.
All services will remain private.
In memory of her, please donate to the Arthritis Foundation and plant an Azalea.
Reeta, Bob, Katherine, and I loved working with you for so many years. You were the best!
I will greatly miss my dear friend and neighbor of 60 years. We met at Richfield’s Fremont park with our babies in strollers. Rest in peace dear Helen.
Diane Olson
Linda and Tim,
I felt that your mom was part of our family. She and my mom and dad worked so closely together for years and they depended on her for so much! Also, since she was German, she and my dad (who was born from German immigrants and knew a bit of the German language) would speak German back and forth. Once in a while she would laugh at his pronunciation or use of an incorrect word, but it was all in fun. I’ll miss visiting her as she was such an important link to my folks. My heartfelt condolences to both of you and your family.