Marion Johnson

Friends and family are deeply saddened by the passing of Marion Hazel (Arvidson) Johnson on August 8, 2026 after her long and courageous medical battles.

Marion was born in Three Hills on December 16, 1946 to Hazel (Farrow) and Albert Arvidson who farmed in the Ghost Pine area. She attended her first few years of school at the one-room Mount Vernon school before relocating to Three Hills Public School. She got her teaching degree and B.Sc. in Home Economics from the University of Alberta in Edmonton and taught high school and junior high in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick.

She was a member of the CGIT when she was in high school along with her lifelong friend Helen (Bishop) Miller and worked at a fishing lodge (Trophy Lodge) in Great Bear Lake in the summers of her university years.

She became an accomplished seamstress and passed along many of those skills to her daughters. She was well-known for gifting handmade blankets to all of the new babies in her life and was able to mend or alter any piece of clothing presented to her.

During her many years in Toronto she became a talented folk-art painter, and much of her work from that era is on display in the homes of family and friends. She even joined some of her artist friends on a trip to France where she was happily exposed to art, scenery and life of that country.

She spent countless hours sailing on Lake Ontario with Phil, and many of the friendships she made with the other women in Bluffers Park Yacht Club stayed with her for life.

Marion became very active in Three Hills when she retired from teaching and moved back 21 years ago to spend time helping her mom stay in her home as long as possible. Although she lived away for many years, she was a prairie girl at heart.

She was on numerous mixed curling club championship teams with skip Keith Smith and loved golfing with the girls. She was a member of the Three Hills Legion branch, served 15 years as chair of the Three Hills Hospital Auxiliary, was a member of the Red Hatters and had an amazing circle of friends that included her birthday club and her aquasize friends. She and her mom were longtime supporters of Knox United Church.

Marion loved travelling with her husband to visit family and to tour countries in Europe, Thailand, and Mexico. She was an avid reader and a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, often staying up late to put just a few more pieces in.

Marion was predeceased by her parents.

She leaves behind her loving husband of 53 years, Philip, two daughters: Elena Johnson (Joe Nagy) and Krista Marinuzzi (Tony), three stepdaughters: Margret Gledhill, Kirsten Johnson (Kim Messer) and Sherryl Clark, and her two beloved brothers Merl Arvidson (Maureen) and Robert Arvidson (Judy). She will be missed so much by her seven grandchildren: Evelyn Marinuzzi, Joah and Colby Messer-Johnson, Elisabet Margretardottir, Vala Arnardottir, and Finn and Dash Aversano.

Marion was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, community member, and friend who will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know her.

Donations to the Three Hills Hospital Auxiliary or Knox United Church would be greatly appreciated.

A celebration of her amazing life will be held at Knox United Church in Alberta on Tuesday, August 25th at 1:00 pm (4 PM Atlantic). Livestream for the service can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/@charlieball1369/streams

Kneehill Funeral Services, Three Hills, entrusted with arrangements 403-443-5111