Kristie Katheryn (Johason) Wagoner, 69 of Crookston, Minnesota passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 7, 2021, shortly after 3 pm, at the Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, North Dakota with her Nieces and Nephews at her side. Her death was due to multiple system failures.
She is preceded in death by her late parents Eleanor Florence (Ueland) Johnson and Theodore Kenneth Johnson; Sister: Debbie (Johnson) Swanson. Her sister Debbie was the first firewoman in Minnesota to die in the line of duty in Dalbo, Minnesota; Uncle: Kermit Therian Ueland with his wife Ursula Ueland; Grandparents: Selma Mathild (Hanson) Ueland and Kalmer M. Ueland all born in Minnesota; Great Grandparents Petra Olina (Trana) Hanson and Carl Martin Hanson, Gurine Sophia (Jacobson) Veland and Michael Knudson Ueland; Great Great Grandparents: Ellen (Johannesdatter) Trana and Isack Nelson Trana, Anne (Knutsdatter) Hanson and August Hanson, Nikolina Pernille (Pedersdatter) and Knut Mikkelson Ueland all who emigrated from Norway in the mid-19th century by ship landing in Canada in search of fertile farmland and prosperity. They traveled by wagon to Minnesota and North Dakota where they settled and raised their families from whom Kristie is descended.
Kristie is survived by her son Anthony (aka, Tony or Thorvald) Theodore Wagoner and his significant other Amy Dittes with her 3 children: Alexa Dittes, Taylor Johnson, Jacob Else, and Granddaughter Lily Dittes whom Kristie cherished dearly and helped raise from Lily’s birth at her home in Sampson’s Addition, Crookston. She is also survived by her many nicces and nephews: Amy Piatz, Tammy Thayer, Peggy Sager, Fred Swanson, and Andy Swanson along with their children and Grandchildren. Also, her brother-in-law Charlie Swanson.
Kristie was and is, in the memories of all those who knew her, an amazing, kind, gentle, loving woman. She always gave of herself to anyone who came to her in need. She loved animals both domesticated and wild. She wished to be cremated with her late beloved cat Kaleiah. She was a great cook taking after her mother. Raised Methodist at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Crookston, she was always in attendance for many years with her devout mother and son on Sundays. Kristie was a woman of high moral standards and loyalty even when people did not reciprocate loyalty to her. Her son was her life and she stuck by his side throughout all his troubles.
Kristie loved cosmetics, going to the casino with her best friends Val and Ruth, and traveling with her mother and son to spend time with her nieces and nephews. Family was her passion. She was a talented artist and enjoyed painting beautiful landscapes as well as teaching and making ceramics in her mother’s basement. Decorating at Christmas time was always a favored tradition. Kristie graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Crookston in her late 30’s majoring in business management and was consistently on the Dean’s list. She also attended beauty school in East Grand Forks. Kristie was a hard-working woman sometimes working two jobs while raising Tony with the help of her mother.
She retired from many years as a devoted employee at Polk County Social Services where she was very well-liked. She loved collecting various knick-knacks especially anything related to cows. Later on, she developed a love for Elvis, collecting various records and memorabilia. While rarely venturing far from Minnesota, she once went to visit Graceland in Memphis.
A traditional Scandinavian memorial service, celebrating her life, will be scheduled for her sometime in mid-2023. Her ashes will be divided partly among her son and close family members. For those who wish to pay their respects, her ashes will also be scattered over her mother and father’s grave in Crookston and her sister’s grave in Dalbo, MN in 2023 according to her wishes.
Online Guestbook: www.stenshoelhouske.com
Arrangements entrusted to Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston, MN.
