Mava Johnstone

Funeral Services for Mava L. Johnston, 77, of Spearfish, SD formerly of Hammond, MT will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 26, 2008 in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka, MT with Pastor Bob Anderson and Pastor Tim Wyrick officiating. Interment will follow in the Johnston Family Cemetery at Ridgway. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25th, and continue on Tuesday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Mava went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at her daughter?s home in Florence, OR. Mava Lucile Johnston was born November 7, 1930, at the family home in the Mill Iron community, Carter County, MT. She was the sixth child born to Perry Albert and Nancy Frye Goodwin Walter. Mava attended the Spring Valley country school and went on to Carter County High School her freshman year. At the age of 15, just before her sophomore year of high school, she contracted polio. This required almost a year of hospitalization and therapy before she was allowed to come home. On June 5, 1948, Mava eloped with Warren Johnston. This was a life time union that lasted almost 58 years, until Warren’s death in 2006. They were blessed with four children: Merrilyn, Myron, Debra, and Bryce. Mava and Warren made their home on the family ranch in the Ridgway community. Mava was very active in many organizations including: Ladies Aid Society, Gumbo Gophers 4-H Club, Woolgrowers Auxiliary, Carter County Belles, and Homemakers Heritage Club. It was through determination and perseverance that Mava was able to overcome the challenges of polio. She proved her doctors and many others wrong by being a wonderful rancher?s wife and mother. Mava helped start a Sunday School which eventually became Hope Baptist Church, at which she was a charter member. She served at various times as Sunday School superintendent, teacher, and church secretary. It was also her joy to teach or be involved in many Bible studies. Mava also loved gardening, sewing, reading, traveling and spending time with her family. She was always interested in what her grandkids were doing. Mava was a mom to many of the neighborhood children, and later on in life became known as grandma to their children. Due to frail health Warren and Mava moved from the ranch to Spearfish, SD, in November 2003. Mava maintained her home in Spearfish until her passing. Mava is survived by her children, Merrilyn (Barry) Jones of Cottonwood, AZ, Myron (Val) Johnston of the family ranch Ridgway , MT, Debra Sherman of Florence, OR, and Bryce Johnston of Belgrade, MT; a brother, Vernon (Bernice) Walter, Ekalaka, MT; three sisters, Wilma Oxford, Miles City, MT, Sarah McIntosh, Pacifica, CA and Virginia (Bill) Kay, Thornton, CO; eight grandchildren, Dan (Rachelle) Jones, Tom (Christina) Jones, Misty Johnston, Melissa Johnston, Jason Johnston, Joel Johnston, Ross Johnston and Tom Johnston; one great granddaughter, Evalyn Mava Jones; four great step grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members. She is preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Nancy; her husband, Warren; her two brothers, John Walter and baby bother, Albert Walter and her sister, Diana Bauer. Memorials may be given to Trails End Ranch or The American Heart Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of the Stevenson Funeral Home of Ekalaka, MT.


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Burial Date: February 26, 2008
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Tuesday, Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT