Pearl Alice Hanson Johnson

Pearl Alice Hanson Johnson passed away on December 28, 2023, after a short illness in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born on December 8, 1925, to Melvin Hanson and Lillian Mathilda Beckstrand Hanson in Shelley, Idaho. She was the fourth of 11 children. She graduated from Shelley High School, and immediately attended Utah State University for one year. She worked as a doctor’s receptionist and bookkeeper in her younger years.

Pearl and her sweetheart, Rene Merlin Johnson, knew each other all their lives. They kindled their love after Rene returned from serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Rene and Pearl were married after Rene returned from his mission to Sweden on June 2, 1949, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Together they had seven children: Corinne, Barbara, Douglas, Margaret, Virginia, Gordon, and Roger.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked Rene to manage the New York/New Jersey’s Farm in 1961, so the family packed their U-Haul and moved East for many years. In 1963, the family moved to Maryland to manage Bountiful Farms along the Maryland coast.

In 1965, the family settled down in the suburbs of Washington D.C. As Pearl’s children got older, she had the opportunity to go back to school. She received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland.

In 1980, Rene and Pearl purchased a farm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. They turned an old tobacco farm into “The Johnson Family Berry Farm.” Many of their family members remember this farm very fondly.

In 1986, the family made the decision to move back to Salt Lake City, Utah. Pearl and Rene were retired and devoted their time to family history. In 1988-1989 they served as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Stockholm Sweden Mission. Pearl had many callings in The Church over the years. She also enjoyed crocheting and would donate around 40 Afghans for newborns.

Pearl devoted her life to education, and above all else, her family. She touched the lives of all those around her and loved them deeply.

Pearl leaves behind her loving children: Barbara (Dennis) Massey, Douglas (Lucinda) Johnson, Virginia (Ned) Black, Gordon (Gertrude) Johnson, and Roger (Whitney) Johnson. 38 grandchildren, and over 100 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Alva Lu.

She is preceded in death by her parents Melvin and Lillian, her loving husband, Rene, and two daughters: Corinne (Jay) Hall and Margaret (Nick) Itri, and her siblings. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 11:00 AM with a viewing one-hour prior beginning at 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 225 West 500 North, Salt Lake City, Utah. Interment will immediately follow at Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah, next to her sweetheart, Rene.