Beatrice Morrall

Beatrice Mae Crownhart was born Aug. 22, 1921, in Grantsburg, Wis., the daughter of Maurice and Myrtle (Halberg) Crownhart.

She graduated from high school in Centuria, Wis. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

In July 1943 she was united in marriage to S/Sgt R.D. Johnson in Lubbock, Texas. When he went overseas, she returned to Wisconsin to teach high school mathematics.

After the war, she continued teaching and raising a family. She went back to school and in 1967 earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the College of St. Thomas. She worked as a high school guidance counselor until her retirement in 1982.

She then moved to Texas, where she met Bernard Morrall. They married May 15, 1985, sold her home in the Cities and moved to Armstrong. Following Bernard’s death in 2004, Beatrice moved to WinterGreen Apartments in Hudson to be near her sons, daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bea was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong and a member of the Martha Circle. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the ABC Club, Heritage Museum, the GFWC Wednesday Study Club and belonged to several Bridge clubs and a weekly coffee club.

She was a member of the American Association of University Women and a ham radio operator licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. She enjoyed knitting and sewing and was very interested in computers.

Beatrice was an extremely supportive, positive, kind, gentle, devoted and loving mother, grandmother and wife. She was an avid reader and her favorite pastime other than being with family and friends was working on her computers and keeping up with the latest technology and current events.

In more recent years she has greatly enjoyed the company of her good friend, John Bartholomew.

Survivors include daughters Judith (Johnson) Sajka and husband Vlad of Sanford, Fla., Janet (Johnson) Thomas and husband Jim of Hudson, Wis., daughter-in-law Jane Johnson of Stillwater, Minn., son Richard Johnson of Blaine, Minn.; step-sons, James Morrall and wife Rebecca of Omaha, Neb., Larry Morrall and wife Lilly of Fairbanks, Alaska, Alan Morrall of Armstrong, Iowa; step-daughter, Bernadette Morrall of Augusta, Ga.; brothers, Maurice Crownhart and wife Hildur of Grantsburg, Wis., Irwin Crownhart and wife Delores of Fayetteville, Penn.; sister, Lucille Abrahamson of River Falls, Wis.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; many step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Rex Johnson, of St. Paul, Minn.; husband, Bernard Morrall of Armstrong, Iowa; son, David Johnson of Stillwater, Minn.; grandson, David Sajka of Sanford, Fla.; son-in-law, Marcus Salmonson of St. Paul, Minn.; sister, Lavone Brunsberg of Dallas, Texas; and three brothers-in-law, Daniel Hunter, Jerry Vorwald and Ray Abrahamson of River Falls.

A funeral service for Beatrice M. Morrall was Monday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, 920 Third St., Hudson.

Burial was in the Willow River Cemetery, Hudson.

Visitation was Sunday, June 14, from 2-4 p.m. at O’Connell Funeral Home, Hudson.

Memorials are preferred and may be sent to the funeral home.