Deborah Johnson, 74, Owatonna

Deborah Lynn Johnson, 74, of Owatonna, died Monday, April 29, 2024, at Birchwood Cottages in Owatonna.

She was born Sept. 2, 1949, in Postville, Iowa the daughter of Dean and Irene (Erickson) DeSart. She grew up in Elgin, Iowa where she graduated from high school.

On Aug. 17, 1969, she married David Leonhart, and they had two children, Brenda and Eric.

On Jan. 1, 2005, she married Craig Johnson in Las Vegas, and the couple made their home in Owatonna.

Along with raising her children, Deborah worked at Truth in Owatonna for 25 years.

She loved spending time with her family and friends, shopping, traveling, going to movies, cheering on the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins, and watching her grandson, Brandon Moen wrestle.

She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Owatonna.

She is survived by her husband, Craig Johnson of Owatonna; children, Brenda (and Jason) Biesterfeld of Owatonna; Benjamin Johnson, Christopher Otterson and Marshall Otterson all of Killeen, Texas; brother, James (and Barbara) DeSart of Des Moines, Iowa, and their daughter, Megan; sister, Kimberly Edwards of Clear Lake, Iowa; grandchildren, Brandon Moen of Owatonna, Jacob Ronningen of West Concord and Thomas Biesterfeld of Owatonna and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dean and Irene; husband, David Leonhart; son, Eric Leonhart; brother, Mark DeSart and other relatives.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna with visitation one hour prior. Pastor Mike Walerius will officiate. A pizza buffet (Deborah’s favorite food) will immediately follow the service. Private interment will be held at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna.

Please consider honoring Deborah’s battle with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s by donating to Parkinson’s Foundation at https://www.parkinson.org or Alzheimer’s Association at https://alz.org.

Michaelson Funeral Homes in Owatonna is handling funeral arrangements.