Lila Mae Ross Johnson, who celebrated her 90th birthday last October, passed away peacefully on Labor Day, September 5, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born October 14, 1931 in Midway Utah, the daughter of Lorin D. Ross and Freda Maud Frye. Her father was a miner, and they moved many times during her childhood, living in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana and Washington. She met her future sweetheart, Max George Johnson, in Midway while on a visit to see her sister, Juanita Zenger. They dated briefly until she returned to Seattle, and they corresponded by letter until he proposed. Their marriage was solemnized on May 17, 1950 by Spencer W. Kimball in the Salt Lake Temple.

They were blessed with ten children: Ross (Arnette) Johnson, Emory Johnson, Susan (Les) Corbett, Timothy (Martha) Johnson, Julie (Van) Swainston, Mark Johnson, Mary (Troy) Coil, Linda Christensen, Sandra (Mike) Pugh, and Rebecca Johnson.

They were joined over the years by four Indian Placement students and eleven foreign exchange students from Mexico, who lived with Max and Lila Mae for one year each, and the many children she tended over the years. It was a household full of chaotic love.

Lila Mae loved children, and they all loved her. She had a strong testimony of the gospel and was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many capacities during her lifetime, but her favorite callings were teaching the primary children, becoming everyone's favorite "grandma."

Her passing on Labor Day was very fitting, because she worked until she was 90 years and 11 months older, at various jobs, and laboring and working for her family and others, most recently at the Dairy Keen since 1998, becoming famous for her braided Swiss Bread. The Dairy Keen made a YouTube video of her bread-making demonstration, which has received over 25,000 hits.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Max, sons Emory and Tim, and daughter Julie, her parents, sisters Annette and Nita, and her brothers, Donald and Alva. She is survived by her sister Jeannine (Neal) Maxfield, twenty-one grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Special thanks to her hospice nurse, Audrey Stembridge, for the great care and support she gave during Mom's final weeks, and to her wonderful neighbors, and nephew Lynn, who were so supportive and always helpful.

"And think of her as living

In the hearts of all she touched,

For nothing loved is ever lost

And she was loved so much."

Friends and family may visit Friday, September 9, 2022 from 6-8pm at the Fox Den Ward building, 250 East 200 South, Midway, Utah. Another visitation will be from 9:30 - 10:30 at the same location. Funeral Services will follow starting at 11:00 am. Services may be viewed at https://zoom.us/j/96713612156

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.walkersanderson.com