Betty "Jean" Johnson

Betty “Jean” Johnson age 94 of Fairfield, passed away Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 7, 2021, at Behner Funeral Home with Pastor Gabriel Claussen officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Amanda Cares (grief counseling and support for children who have dealt with loss and their families) https://www.everystep.org/donate or mailed to Every Step Foundation. 3000 Easton Blvd, Des Moines, IA 50317, can earmark for Amanda the Panda or Amanda Cares.  Link to Amanda the Panda if not familiar   https://www.everystep.org/services/grief-loss/about-amanda-the-panda

Betty Jean (Brereton) Johnson was born April 13, 1927, to Willard and Ida Brereton, the youngest of 8 children. During WWII, Jean rented a room from Howard and Isabelle Johnson, during this time Howard’s cousin Herb came home from the war and they met, fell in love and were married on September 1, 1946 at the First United Methodist Church. She and Herb had 2 sons, Harold (Butch) and Randal (Randy).  They celebrated 71 years of marriage before he passed away on October 28, 2017.

Jean worked for the First National Bank in Fairfield for 20 years before owning and operating the Fairfield Credit Bureau.  She and Herb attended most girls’ high school sports events for the Fairfield Trojans and many for the Ottumwa bulldogs as well as many for their grandchildren’s teams. Most years they could be found in their reserved seats for the entire Iowa high school girls’ basketball tournament as well as the women’s college softball world series tournament.

Jean enjoyed working with her hands, primarily quilting and cross stitch.  She volunteered at Department of Human Services, Community Child Care Center and Jefferson County Auxiliary Bargain Box.

Jean will be missed by her son, Harold Johnson of Dickinson, TX; daughter-in-law, Melinda Johnson of Ankeny, IA; 9 grandchildren; and 9 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Ida Brereton, husband, Herb; son, Randy; two grandchildren; and siblings Glen Brereton, Harold Brereton, Hollis Brereton, Madeline Metz, Lucille Kurtz, Bernice Martin and Dorothy Wilson.