Vera Dee Johnson, 97 years, of North Platte, NE, passed away at Centennial Park Retirement Center in North Platte on Thursday, January 29, 2015.

Vera was born in a log cabin on June 3, 1917, to Carl Orn and Sadie Sheppard Thero at Stover, MO. When she was a small child, the family moved to Tribune, KS where she grew up and attended school. Vera later moved to Julesburg, CO where she lived with her aunt and uncle, Vera and Vernie Twomey, and worked as a telephone operator and at the Lincoln Cafe.

On April 24, 1940, Vera married Everett Hans Johnson in Sidney, NE and they made their home in North Platte. In 1961 Vera went to work for the North Platte Public Schools in Food Services, she retired from there after 29 years.

Vera had been a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church since March 3, 1945. She was active in Esther Lois Circle, taught Sunday School, and was in charge of making the dressing for Thanksgiving dinner for many years. Vera was also a life member of the PTA and a member of RSVP and Union Pacific Old Timers.

When the children were younger, Vera was a Cub Scout leader and Blue Bird leader. She enjoyed helping others by sewing quilt tops for the church and school bags for Lutheran World Relief. In recognition of her kindness, Vera was the first recipient of the KODY Good Neighbor Award in 1958.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren, E. Charles Johnson, of North Platte and his children, Shelly (Sam), Amy (Julian) and Mike (Dee); Sharon (Charles) Kleckner, of North Platte, and their children, Sarah, Rebecca and Laurel (Nick); and Larry (Carol) Johnson, of Phoenix, AZ, and their children, Craig (Mi Kyong), Todd and Trish; 14 great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Emily, Christopher, Brett, Madison, McKenna, Brianda, Mitchell, Andrew, Camden, Jamie, Dylan, Christian and Julia; three great great-grandchildren, Marley, James and Angalee; and other family.

Vera was preceded in death by her brothers, Karl and Charles Thero, who were both killed in W.W.II; her husband, Everett; parents, Carl and Sadie Thero; and special friend, Ray Kehm.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to Easter Seals or the W-ELCA (Lutheran Church Women’s Circle). Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.