Nancy Huhtala Johnston

Nancy Huhtala Johnston, 83, of Sebeka, died July 4, 2015, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena. A celebration of life service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 10, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Sebeka with Pastor Steve Koehne officiating. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at Wevley Funeral Home in Sebeka, and at the church an hour before the service. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sebeka. Nancy was born June 11, 1932, in Frazee, Minnesota, the youngest of four children of Martha (Anundsen) and Edward G. Chilton. Her parents named her Honor Jane, but a sibling named her Nancy. She grew up in Detroit Lakes, and after graduation from high school, she attended nursing school, earning her RN in 1953 at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. She married Charles W. Huhtala in December 1953 and lived in Staples, where she worked in the hospital and gave birth to the first of her children, Anne and Mark. In 1956, Nancy and family moved to Sebeka, where the rest of her children were added: Phoebe, Charles, Kirsten, John, and James. Once the children were all attending school, Nancy returned to nursing, working at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga for 29 years, retiring as Director of Nursing in 1996. In July 1990, she married E. Duane “Duey” Johnston and moved to their new home near Hillview, west of Sebeka. There she helped Duey with his fish decoy business, Duey’s Decoys. Nancy was active in various community organizations, including American Legion Auxiliary, choral groups Sweet Adeline’s and Northern Chorale, Christian Women, Red Hat Society, and TOPS. She also was active in her church as a Sunday school teacher, pianist, and organist. She also played the piano for various musical organizations and for family and personal enjoyment. In addition, she enjoyed reading, especially with her children; knitting and sewing; gardening; taking in strays, especially cats; and outdoor activities, especially with family at the lake. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Judy Chilton Adams, son John W. Huhtala, and husband Charles W. Huhtala. She is survived by husband Duey; brothers Dan Chilton and Edward Chilton; children Anne Huhtala, Mark (Brenda) Huhtala, Phoebe (Lee) Vought, Charles (Wanda) Huhtala, Kirsten Lamar, and James (Rhonda) Huhtala; stepchildren Jenni (Paul) Lubbers and Scott (Jennifer) Johnston; eighteen grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.