Virginia Johnson

Virginia Lee (Jensen) Johnson was born to Einer Thorval Jensen and Delores M. (Heiting) Jensen on March 4th, 1927. She quietly passed away in her sleep on October 28, 2025 at the age of 96.

Virginia grew up south of Hay Springs in the Mirage Flats area with her 3 younger siblings, Anna Marie (Rinky), Larry, and Dean. She was baptized, confirmed, and attended St. Peter’s Lutheran Church throughout her life.

Virginia (Jenny) graduated from Hay Springs High School in 1947. She married Jimmy J Johnson on September 30, 1948 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. They started their life together on Unit 42 of the new Mirage Flats Irrigation Project in 1952 where they started a dairy. It was on this farm that they raised their five children – Karen Kay, Marvin Douglas, Rita Mae, Robert James and Donna Rae. The family worked together, played together, and grew up together. They owned the dairy for over 40 years which kept them pretty close to the farm. They worked closely with their children and the neighbors to make a good life filled with great memories.

In addition to milking cows, Jim and Virginia traveled to many lakes where they did a lot of fishing and camping; they loved to dance as well as play cards with whoever had time to sit down for a game. They worked and visited with neighbors. Virginia often said that they had a great life.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; Her husband Jim; sister- Anna Marie: brothers- Larry and Dean; grandson – Eric Peters; granddaughter – Ashton Birmingham; Son-in-Law – Patrick Runkle.

She leaves behind her 5 children Karen Runkle, Marvin (Cheri) Johnson, Rita (Wayne) Peters, Bob (Donna) Johnson, and Donna (Rick) Brice. She is also survived by her Sisters-in-law Deann Jensen and Lorna Christoffersen; brother-in-law Wes Wilsey, 13 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren.

A funeral will be at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Mirage Flats on Saturday, November 8 at 2:00. Burial will be at the Nebraska Veteran’s Cemetery in Alliance, Nebraska at a later date.

A memorial has been established for the Hay Springs Fire Department.