Elizabeth A. (Hanlon) Johnson

Elizabeth A. (Hanlon) Larsen, Kaiser, Johnson, age 98, passed away Thursday, December 31, 2015, at the Golden Living Center-Black Hills in Rapid City, SD, surrounded by her family.

Mass of Christian burial will be 2:00 pm, Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen, with Father Mark Lichter as Celebrant.

Burial will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service being held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at church on Wednesday.

Elizabeth A. Hanlon was born September 19, 1917, in Verdon, SD, one of eight children born to William and Elizabeth (Salm) Hanlon. She grew up in the Verdon and Aberdeen, SD areas.

Elizabeth married Abraham Larsen in 1938. They moved to Wisconsin where their first child, Eugene, was born but soon after passed away. The couple then moved back to Verdon, SD, in 1939, where sons Dale and Delbert were born. The family also lived in Groton, SD, before moving to Smelterville, ID, in 1943, where daughters Delores and Donna were born. Elizabeth returned to South Dakota in 1954.

Elizabeth was united in marriage to Adolf Kaiser. To their union one daughter, Darlene, was born. Adolf passed away in 1956.

Elizabeth then married Donald Johnson. The addition of four stepchildren: Nikkie Sahli, Dottie Ball, Larry Johnson and Randy Johnson completed their family. Donald passed away in May of 1978.

Elizabeth was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Senior Citizens Center, both in Aberdeen. She enjoyed her life on the farm, the animals, gardening, flowers, dogs, and birds. She also enjoyed bingo trips with friends and loved her household pets.

A devoted mother, wife, and grandmother, Elizabeth's love for family was evident in all she did over the years, spending as much of her time as possible caring for and mentoring her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"God saw she was getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put his arms around her and whispered 'Come with me.' In tears we watched her suffer, as we saw her fade away, and though we loved her dearly, we couldn't make her stay. Her golden heart stopped beating and loving hands were laid to rest. God broke our hearts to prove he only takes the best." Elizabeth was the greatest mother in the world.

Elizabeth is survived by three children: Delbert (Francie) Larsen of Albuquerque, NM, Delores (Craig) Bower of Black Hawk, SD, and Donna (Don) Burt of Piedmont, SD; 23 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; 30 great great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Frances Armstrong and Josephine Raegels, both of Aberdeen.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands; four children: Eugene Larsen, Dale Larsen, Darlene Tullar and Nikkie Sahli; two grandchildren: Lee Tullar and Brad Sahli; three great-grandchildren: Blake Gower, Dale Means, and Chelea Gean Larsen; three brothers: Buddy, Elmer, and John Hanlon; and two sisters: Marge Soltysiad and Mary Albrecht.