Myrtle Violet Apelgren was born on May 16, 1919 in Atwater, Minnesota to Carl and Delia (Rossell) Apelgren. She received her education in the Atwater Schools. When she was twelve years old her father died suddenly at the age of 56 years. Her Uncle Albert, who made his home with the family became like a second father. She married William (Bill) Johnson on June 21, 1940 in Truman, Minnesota. They moved to Trimont around 1943. She lived there until March of 2006 when she moved to an Assisted Living in Champlin, Minnesota to be closer to her daughter. On August 13, 2007 she moved into the Birchwood Health Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota. As a young girl she was a Campfire Girl, but after moving to Trimont became very involved in Girl Scouts. She served as President of the Triumph Women's Club. Myrtle was a Employee of the Temple Grocery and Mercantile store, which later was owned by several different people. She stayed through all the new owners and retired after thirty plus years. Her favorite singer was Vince Gill and her daughter took her to one of his live performances at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Myrtle and several friends baked cookies together for the Christmas Holiday. They did it for years. She loved to play cards and at one time belonged to a Bridge Club and later switched to Pinochle. She also loved music, dancing, fishing and Anita's dog. She was a member of First Lutheran Church since moving to Trimont. In her youth she was very active in her church.

Myrtle died on Friday, August 31, 2007 at the Birchwood Health Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota at the age of eighty-eight years.

Myrtle is survived by daughter Anita Heley of St. Francis, Minnesota; grandson Jeff Curtis of Florida; granddaughter Ann (Shawn) Johnson of Oak Grove, Minnesota; three step-grandsons, Ralph Heley of Ponca City, Oklahoma, David Heley of Brooklyn center, Minnesota, and Jim Heley of Stillwater, Oklahoma; four great grandchildren, Kyle, Alyssa, Elizabeth Johnson and Daniel Heley; niece's Coral Nyquist of Janesville, Wisconsin, Susan (John) Toothaker of Fairmont, Minnesota and Nephew Chubb (Karon) Rhode of Truman, Minnesota and other relatives and friends.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, two sisters, uncle Albert, son-in-law and other relatives and friends.