Obituary for Beth Pauline Johnson
Beth Pauline Johnson, age 68, peacefully passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024 at her home in
Slinger, after a courageous battle with ALS. She was born on October 31, 1955 in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota to Judeen and Marian (nee Severtson) Johnson. Beth is survived by her beloved
husband of 20 years, David S Smith, III, who she married on January 3, 2004 at Kingo Lutheran
Church in Shorewood, WI. Beth is also survived by her children, Lilian Ruth Smith and Matthew
Sebastian Smith; grandchild, David S Smith IV; stepchildren, Catharine R. Smith, Charles D.
Smith, Frances E. (nee Smith) Fitzgerald; siblings, Luther Johnson (Mary Brown) and Renate
Johnson (John Hindbjorgen); nieces Hope Brown and Kaia Lind; nephew Carter Lind. She is
further survived by other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents,
Judeen Orlin Johnson (2015), and Marian Opal (nee Severtson) Johnson (1999).
As a Lutheran pastor’s daughter she was raised in rural Flandreau, SD before moving to
Beresford, SD at age 5. At age 16 her family moved to DeSmet, SD where she graduated from
high school in 1973.
She received her bachelors in Nursing and Sociology from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD
in 1977 and her masters in Nursing at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN in 1983.
She taught nursing at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; and later worked as a Clinical
Nurse Specialist at Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Michael Hospital in Milwaukee, and later as
a consultant with Aurora Health Care and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee before she
retired.
Beth enjoyed family, friends, being outdoors, gardening, Norwegian and ballroom dancing. She
had a close bond with her grandson, Davey. Our dog Arrow stuck by her side as she was dying,
and then wanted to lie on her lap in the wheelchair as he often did. She was an amazing woman
who loved and cared for all those around her. She made the world a better place. Family was
very important to her, and she fought to stay for us. She is at rest now.
A Memorial Service will be at 4:00PM on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at St Luke Lutheran Church
(4860 Arthur Rd, Slinger, WI 53086) with Pastor Joshua Gyson presiding. Visitation will be at
the church on Saturday, March 16th from 2:00PM until 3:45PM. Inurnment will be in South
Dakota in a family plot.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Habitat for Humanity; St Luke Lutheran Church,
Slinger, WI; The ALS Association of WI, Wauwatosa WI; Special Olympics; and Sierra Club.
They can be donated to online.
A special thank you to Rhonda Beine and Sherry Brockman. Also, our dogs Arrow and Bandit.
Slinger, after a courageous battle with ALS. She was born on October 31, 1955 in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota to Judeen and Marian (nee Severtson) Johnson. Beth is survived by her beloved
husband of 20 years, David S Smith, III, who she married on January 3, 2004 at Kingo Lutheran
Church in Shorewood, WI. Beth is also survived by her children, Lilian Ruth Smith and Matthew
Sebastian Smith; grandchild, David S Smith IV; stepchildren, Catharine R. Smith, Charles D.
Smith, Frances E. (nee Smith) Fitzgerald; siblings, Luther Johnson (Mary Brown) and Renate
Johnson (John Hindbjorgen); nieces Hope Brown and Kaia Lind; nephew Carter Lind. She is
further survived by other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents,
Judeen Orlin Johnson (2015), and Marian Opal (nee Severtson) Johnson (1999).
As a Lutheran pastor’s daughter she was raised in rural Flandreau, SD before moving to
Beresford, SD at age 5. At age 16 her family moved to DeSmet, SD where she graduated from
high school in 1973.
She received her bachelors in Nursing and Sociology from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD
in 1977 and her masters in Nursing at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN in 1983.
She taught nursing at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; and later worked as a Clinical
Nurse Specialist at Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Michael Hospital in Milwaukee, and later as
a consultant with Aurora Health Care and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee before she
retired.
Beth enjoyed family, friends, being outdoors, gardening, Norwegian and ballroom dancing. She
had a close bond with her grandson, Davey. Our dog Arrow stuck by her side as she was dying,
and then wanted to lie on her lap in the wheelchair as he often did. She was an amazing woman
who loved and cared for all those around her. She made the world a better place. Family was
very important to her, and she fought to stay for us. She is at rest now.
A Memorial Service will be at 4:00PM on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at St Luke Lutheran Church
(4860 Arthur Rd, Slinger, WI 53086) with Pastor Joshua Gyson presiding. Visitation will be at
the church on Saturday, March 16th from 2:00PM until 3:45PM. Inurnment will be in South
Dakota in a family plot.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Habitat for Humanity; St Luke Lutheran Church,
Slinger, WI; The ALS Association of WI, Wauwatosa WI; Special Olympics; and Sierra Club.
They can be donated to online.
A special thank you to Rhonda Beine and Sherry Brockman. Also, our dogs Arrow and Bandit.