LOUISA MAY (TIPPY ARMIT) JOHNSON

It is with great shock and sadness that the family and friends of Louisa May (Tippy Armit) Johnson acknowledge her passing to a better place on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 in the United Hospital at St. Paul, Mn., surrounded by the love and respect of her family.
Tippy was born Sept. 17, 1941 in Fort Frances, Ont. to Cecilia (Calder) and Charles Armit, the youngest of five children.
Tippy was fun, vivacious, energetic, generous, and kind. She learned a strong work ethic and self-sufficiency from age four when her father died.
She had the insight to problem solve with ease and carry out tasks with incredible efficiency. Tippy always had vision and a goal to strive for.
After leaving Fort Frances High School and graduating from Success Commercial College in Winnipeg, Man. at the age of 19, Tippy emigrated to Minneapolis, Mn. She started working in a bank, went to night school, achieved a business degree, and worked her way up to managing the loans systems.
After an admirable 35-year career with the Norwest/Wells Fargo Corp., retirement was not for Louisa Johnson. She contracted with a consulting firm based out of Boston, Mass. and travelled to various cities throughout the U.S. upgrading banking computer systems.
Tired of being on the road, she settled down close to home to work part-time for three different contractors—at the same time. She took great pleasure in using her “friendly persuasion” to help these men get their books, businesses, and (at times) their lives, in order.
They were jobs she continued—and enjoyed—until her passing.
On Sept. 15, 1962, Tippy married Richard (Dick) Johnson in Fort Frances. The couple made their home in Apple Valley, Mn., where they continued to live and raise their son, Tod.
Tippy had a special spot in her heart for every member of her extended and immediate family. She rarely missed a happy or sad family occasion, regardless of the inconvenience of travel.
She maintained very close ties with numerous childhood friends and added a family of friends in Minneapolis. Tippy and her husband, Dick, always kept the door of their big house open to entertain loved ones—even when they showed up unannounced or invaded the house with all of their noisy children.
Tippy always was the life of the party; she loved to dance at any opportunity and to “work the crowd.” She treated people with compassion and understanding, loved hard, knew how to make others laugh, and didn’t sweat the small stuff.
Her daily routine constantly began with rigorous exercise at the gym, starting at 5 a.m., doing exercises that many young people could not do.
Tippy was a great ambassador for her home town of Fort Frances. In the winter months, when she told her friends in Minneapolis that she was going to her condo, they asked, “Where? In Florida?” Her answer was, “No, Fort Frances!”
Tippy also was very proud of her Calder Clan, Armit, and Métis roots that go back to the humble beginnings of Fort Frances.
Tippy is survived by her husband, Richard; son, Tod (Teri); grandsons, Shane (Jill) Poole and Ian Johnson; great-grandson, Mason Poole; siblings, Cecile (Dede) Egan, Donald Armit, and Bob (Erma) Armit; and sister-in-law, Bernice Armit.
She especially enjoyed being the “Eccentric Aunt” to her nieces and nephews, Suzanne Sumida and her children, Tricia and Vanessa (Colin) Egan; Randy Egan; David (Karen) Egan and their, children David (Nicole), Joe (Lindsay), and Shaun (Tessa); Nancy (Gordon) Witherspoon and their children, Scott (Danielle), Bryce (Laura), and Brant; Charlie (Sue) Armit; Debbie (Derrick) Lawres and daughter, Alissa (Jason); Lisa (Todd) Plourde and children, Courtney, Brodie, and Abby; Lori Holmes and children, Alicia (Jordan) Nastiuk and Justin Holmes; Wanda (Dick) Botsford and children, Bob (Christine), Nic (Mel), Jordie (Sara), and Miriah; Victor (Penny) Armit and their children, Kyla (Aaron) Ellis, DJ (Brandi) Ellis, and Adam Armit; and DJ (Jackie) Armit and children, Ethan and Joclyn; as well as great-great nephews and nieces, Isabella, Nathan, Tzevi, Tyvek, Xavier, Addax, Indira, Matthew, Casey, Poppy, Cruz, Camden, Ava, Violet, Jaxon, Karter, Keira, Brooklyn, Ayden, Olivia, Kayden, and Garrett.
To welcome her to her new home are her father, Charles Armit (1945); mother, Cecilia Armit (1987); brother, David Armit (2005); brother-in-law, Ken Egan (2010); nephew, Patrick Egan (1982); maternal grandparents, Ed and Nancy Calder; paternal grandparents, Dave and Rebecca Armit; and aunts, uncles, and special friends.
For the last few years, Tippy has been inviting young people to her funeral. She would say, “All my friends are dying so I have to recruit younger people!”
A celebration of the life of Louisa (Tippy Armit) Johnson will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.
On Saturday, June 7, 2014, a memorial gathering will be held in Fort Frances, with committal in Riverview Cemetery.
In memoriam donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
Tippy, thanks for precious memories, belly laughs, unconditional love, always being there for us, and for letting us know how to be more efficient . . . whether we wanted to know or not.
We will always smile when we think of you.
In our hearts and minds, you will be FOREVER YOUNG & ALWAYS RIGHT!”