Rhonda Kay Johnson

Rhonda Kay Miner Johnson passed away on Monday, August 20th in Roseville, CA. She was daughter of the late Richard Earl Miner and Margaret Louise Haymond Miner Towse, born April 28, 1948 in Lynwood, California.

The first of five children, Rhonda was a born teacher who loved to help others. She grew up in Hacienda Heights and graduated from Los Altos High School in 1966. She studied sociology at Brigham Young University and received her Bachelors of Science. During those years, she met her lifelong love, Raymon “Kim” Johnson. The two wed on May 31, 1972 in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After two years in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the couple moved to Whittier, California, where they raised their family of seven children.

Rhonda chose to be a stay-at-home mother and used her talents to serve, devoting the bulk of her time to providing her children with meaningful experiences and cultivating a warm, inviting home. At the forefront of her mind was how to serve others and be the best example of Jesus Christ.

While she and her husband focused on raising kind, smart, and hardworking children, their greatest desires were that their kids would learn how to become righteous disciples of Christ. Rhonda led that charge through generously giving - often anonymously - and using her unique skills to bless the lives of others. She taught by example, practicing love, empathy, and forgiveness without reservation. When Kim passed away in 1992, Rhonda showed a noble resilience and dogged determination to lift her family from tragedy, using no excuses through her unwavering efforts to support her children.

Spending time with her family brought her joy, from well-crafted dinners to card games, to playing the piano and singing together, or just having a good visit on the phone with a far-off loved one. Rhonda was an accomplished seamstress who sewed beautiful clothing and Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren. She was brilliant and could answer every question on Jeopardy, win any game of Trivial Pursuit, and raced the clock to solve the daily crossword puzzle.

She spent her teaching career at Lydia Jackson Elementary School. Early in her career, she would rush after work to night classes that were required for a full teaching credential, all while making time to cook, help her children with homework and scripture study, and sit in the stands to cheer on her kids playing sports and music.

She retired in 2008 and moved to Roseville, California to be closer to her daughters in 2009, happily filling her days with service to her neighbors, her church community, and her kids and growing number of grandchildren. A highlight for her was the time she spent each week serving in the Sacramento Temple. She also served for two years as a Church Service Family History missionary, spending time weekly in the Sacramento Family Search Library, assisting patrons in their family history.

She was private about her battle with pancreatic cancer, as she preferred to focus on others rather than herself. Despite the harsh diagnosis from doctors, Rhonda and her family experienced miracle after miracle that extended her life and gave them all a precious and unexpected blessing of 20 more months. She treasured the time she was able to spend with her family, even when she wasn’t feeling well and she continued to look for ways to serve others each day.

She is preceded in death by her husband, R. Kim Johnson; one son, R. Spencer Johnson; her parents; and one brother, Kevin Miner.

She is survived by her children: E. Michal (Jared) Thomas of Rocklin, CA, Allison B. (Flint) Ferkin of Meridian, ID, C. Martin (Anjuli) Johnson of Raleigh, NC, R. Tyler (Erika) Johnson of San Clemente, CA, Evan B. (Tamara) Johnson of Los Angeles, CA, Stuart T. (Malia) Johnson of Nadi, Fiji, and honorary son Mike W. (Kiersten) Dean of Ft. Worth, TX; twenty-one grandchildren, four honorary grandchildren; brothers Brent (Karen) Miner of Palmyra, NY and Mark (JoLynn) Miner of Orem, UT,; sister Kimberly (Tom) Sanderson of Orem, UT, several nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

Services will be held on Friday, August 24th at 1pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 211 Estates Drive, Roseville, CA.  There will be a viewing from 12:00 to 12:40pm at the same location. Interment will be Monday, August 27th at 12pm at Rose Hills Cemetery, Whittier, CA.  PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL (916-725-2109), directors.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Rhonda Kay Johnson, please visit our Tree Store.