Johnson named Grand Marshal

Arlene Johnson was named the 2014 Grand Marshal of the Potter Days celebration, scheduled for Aug. 28-31.

Johnson was born in Julesburg, Colo., to Arlan and Maureen Luxa. She was raised at Lodgepole and graduated from Lodgepole High School in 1959 and Saint Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in September 1962. She married Gordon Johnson in 1962. Johnson worked at Memorial Health Center until 1970, then took time off to raise their family. She later went back to work at Memorial Health Center Extended Care. Gordon passed away in 1986. She continued working at the nursing home and over the years served as Director of Nurses, worked on staff development, and taught nursing aide classes through WNCC. She retired in 2012, but returns weekly to play cards with the residents.

Johnson is a member of the Potter Community Improvement Steering Committee and Social Neighbors Club. She helped build the sand volleyball court and golf course, helps proof the Coyote Caller, helped refurbish the grocery store and volunteered as a cashier and was part of the crew that recently painted the Potter Health Clinic.

She has baked goodies and worked at the Youth Center Stand at Potter Days for many years and also registers household, 4-H, quilt and historical exhibits for judging.

She is a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sidney, where she volunteers her time as a greeter, lay minister, delivers communion to the home bound, perpetual adoration and is serving on the Liturgy Committee.

Her family includes her children, Jerry and wife, Joni, of Hebron, Neb.; Christine and husband, Kyle Sarratt, of Rogers, Ark.; Dennis and wife, Cara, of Hebron; Denise and husband, Paul Nepodal, of White, S.D.; and Colleen (who is deceased) and husband, Aaron Madsen, of Wheatland, Wyo. She also has 15 grandchildren.