Nora Marie Selmer Rogge Johnson

Nora Marie Selmer Rogge Johnson, age 74, died Sept. 2, 2009, in Manhattan, Kan.

Mrs. Johnson was born Sept. 12, 1934, to Mildred A. Stevenson and Hollis K. Selmer. She was later raised by Mildred and husband Theodore Rogge. Nora graduated from Linn (Kansas) Rural High School in 1952 and was married to Merlin D. Johnson in Kansas City, Mo., on June 24, 1955.

They belonged to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Kan., until finally moving to Nevada, Mo., in 1980, where they were highly active members of Trinity Lutheran Church and resided until Mr. Johnson passed away last year. Mrs. Johnson then moved to Manhattan, Kan., to be closer to her remaining family. Her final year was joyously filled with frequent visits with her great-grandson Oliver Mason Cunningham and other social visits with family and friends. Despite being less involved in church activities due to health limitations, Mrs. Johnson kept her Lutheran faith with daily prayers and Bible reading.

International Harvester employed Nora for 19 years, and she later worked for the Nevada Housing Authority (18 years) until she retired in 1999. Both before and after retirement, she enjoyed traveling, gardening, family genealogy, and a bit of woodworking with her husband.

Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her Husband Merlin Delbert Johnson; her parents, a brother Milton Rogge of Washington, Kan.; and sister Sondra Selmer Ronning of North Bend, Ore.

She is survived by her daughter Debra Diane McDaniel and dear friend Deborah West; granddaughter Jennifer Lynn McDaniel Cunningham and husband Brad; great-grandson Oliver, all of Manhattan, Kan.; sister Carol Rahe and husband Raymond of Linn, Kan.; brothers Michael Selmer and wife Onda of Silver Spring, Md., and Floyd Rogge and wife Eleanor of Washington, Kan.; and sisters-in-law Shirley Davidson of Midwest City, Okla., Esther Ruth Johnson and Georgina Johnson, both of Atlanta, Ga.; one aunt and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, with the Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Jones officiating. Mrs. Johnson's cremains will be laid to rest at a later date next to her husband at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City, Mo.

Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website located at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Habitat for Humanity or the American Cancer Society to which Mr. and Mrs. Johnson both gave their support. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.