Venna Joleen Johnson Hess

Venna Joleen Hess Johnson slipped peacefully from mortality to immortality on August 25, 2025 at the ripe old age of 94 ½ years, with some of her family members by her side in her home at Burley, Idaho.

Joleen was born in Pocatello, Idaho on January 6, 1931 to Oel Clark Hess and Venna Elizabeth Tolman. She was raised from childhood to adulthood in Pocatello, Idaho. Her education took her into Pocatello High School where she was active in a lot of musical formats. She played the piano, was classically trained, and took that with her into her marriage. At the end of her high school career, she married a handsome hunk of Army Surplus named LaVerl Albert Johnson in the Idaho Falls Temple. They lived in Pocatello for some time and because of her husband’s accident she faced the vicissitudes of life with courage, determination, and faith. After her husband finished his Bachelor's degree at Idaho State University, she followed him to the University of Utah for more schooling and then they moved to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, where they raised a large family on a small farm.

She had a fond dream to sing with The Tabernacle Choir; however, with the move to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, that went quietly into the background as she lived on the farm and raised her children. It was just too far to travel to Salt Lake City where the choir practiced. She loved listening to The Tabernacle Choir and enjoyed the addition of the orchestra to The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

She was a fantastic second soprano and sang alto also. In later years she sang tenor due to her voice changing during the years she was raising her family. In her later years, she could even sing a decent bass. Mom could sight read music and often had the opportunity to accompany her children as they sang or played the flute for church.

She had opportunities to sing with the Stake Choirs and with the “Singing Mothers.” She went with the Stake “Singing Mothers” to sing at the General Conference in 1971. It was a wonderful experience! LP records, which no one remembers, were made of those hymns and she received a copy to play on the record player after the conference was over. It brought back sacred memories for her.

Mom was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as she lived in Lava. She was in the Relief Society Presidency and was in charge of compassionate service for the members of the ward. She also played the organ for our church meetings and piano for the ward choir. Some of those songs I remember her practicing over and over again to be able to play them perfectly for the choir. One version of “Silent Night” with syncopation was very difficult for her, but with determination and fortitude she mastered that piece of music, also.

Mom was a fantastic quilter and always had quilts in some form being made. Whether it was in the process of finding fabric, cutting out the pieces, or sewing them together on the sewing machine, she was always engaged! She loved the process of piecing the fabric together to make something spectacular. When the quilts were “on” in the living room, that’s where we would find her when we got home from school, listening to a book on tape and quilting the top to the bottom. Many times, we would play under the quilts, and during Halloween, that was the only safe place to be or the “spooks” would get you!

Mom taught her kids the love of reading simply by example. She loved to go to the library or bookmobile to check out books. She loved to be taken away from her little town of Lava to remote places of the world in a story with a twisted plot. She loved Anne Perry books that took place in Edwardian London, Robert Marcum who told thrillers in the present day and also Clive Cussler who wrote adventures that took place in the distant past and then transitioned to the present day. It was fun for her to try to figure out “the who done it” before the end of the book. She loved the Reader’s Digest, The Saturday Evening Post, The National Geographic, The Smithsonian, and The Mother Earth News.

Joleen took on several jobs outside the home to help bring income for her growing family. At one time she sewed baby quilts made of tricot for the Thomas Mercantile in Swan Lake, Idaho. For many years, Joleen worked long hours doing the physically demanding job on the potato harvester during “spud harvest.” Later in her life she worked at one of the motels as a maid and cleaned rooms. Mom always had hard work to do so she knuckled down and became a hard worker. She helped teach her children to be hard worker bees, also. Mom and Dad had a large garden and would tell us to go out and weed the beans, cucumbers, squash or lettuce. Because of that hard work as a family, we ate some great produce!

Raising eight children was demanding enough! But living on a small farm required the strength of a determined pioneer woman. Mom worked beside her husband and became his “right hand man.” In fact, she once said about the old Corvair, “I can practically fix that engine by myself now.” Mom worked with her kids as we hauled pipe, harvested hay, trimmed the trees in the orchard, helped milk cows, fixed fences and old farm equipment, and helped butcher and process the meat for the family. This was on top of all the inside work required of keeping an organized and clean home for her husband and children.

A few years after her husband’s death in 2006, Joleen moved to Burley, Idaho where she lived next to her daughter, Norell. She always said, “I came to Burley because there are more cultural events here than in Lava Hot Springs. She was always amazed at the amount of talent she found in this area of the state. She enjoyed the plays out in Oakley, at the King Fine Arts Center, and music within the Burley Idaho Stake.

Joleen was a valiant woman of great courage and faith, who emphasized a love for the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In her later years, after all her children were raised, she found time to spend at least an hour a day studying the scriptures or reading the church magazines. She found peace and a deeper faith as she listened to the leaders at the General Conference each 6 months.

Norell described this time like very dark chocolate. It is bitter-sweet! We will miss you mom but look forward to a great reunion in the future. Families can be together forever!

There will be a viewing on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the Unity 2nd Ward in the Relief Society room from 9:00 - 10:45 am. The funeral will commence at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel.

There will be a graveside service in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, at 3:15 P.M.

There will be a Celebration of Life in the Lava Ward cultural hall at 4:30 P.M on Spring Street in Lava Hot Springs.

The family would like to thank the wonderful people of Intermountain Health Hospice who took such loving care of our sweet mother during the time right before her passing. They checked in several times a day, as their schedule permitted, not only to gauge Mom’s condition, but to see how the sisters were holding up. They told us what to expect as the next steps were taking place and what to watch for as mom’s death drew nearer. That was invaluable to us! We will forever be grateful to them!

Thanks also to the Hanson Mortuary for handling her earthly remains with care, dignity and kindness as they have helped us with this difficult process. They have been understanding, caring and gentle handling as they proceeded to remove our mother’s remains from the house to the funeral home.

The family would also like to thank Norell Johnson and Melanie Palmer for their tireless and tender care of our mother. Also, Demaree Rangel for constantly keeping track of Mom while Norell was at work or outside. Thank you also to the friends at Unity 2nd Ward for their love, support, and concern shown to Mom and Norell at this sacred time.

Joleen is preceded in death by her loving husband - LaVerl Albert Johnson: Cortney Francis Curran, Grandson: Jared Clark Curran, Grandson: Morgan Nye, Grandson: Rhett James Carbine, Great-Grandson:

Children: Chelane & David Rietbrock: Daughter & Son-in-Law

Kenya Kristine Curran: Daughter

Nolyn Blake & Patti Johnson: Son & Daughter-in-Law

Brent Thayer & Jane Johnson: Son & Daughter-in-Law

Katre Markell & David Nye: Daughter & Son-in-Law

Norell Johnson: Daughter and caretaker extraordinaire

Ryen LaVerl & Nicolle Marie Johnson: Son & Daughter-in-Law

Emily & Tom Richard Torgerson: Granddaughter

Hillary & Kojo Essah Ampiah-Davis: Granddaughter

Brian David & Celeste “Luz” Patricia Awhina Rietbrock: Grandson

Trevor LaVerl & Wendy Curran: Grandson

Brynne Amber & Roneil Singh: Granddaughter

Brevyn Deverel & (Angela) Johnson: Grandson

Brandon LaVerl & Kirsten Johnson: Grandson

Bryson Blake & Marla Garner Johnson: Grandson

Myka Juan & Kaitlyn Marie Rangel: Grandson

Alyssa Monique Rangel: Granddaughter

Tyler Branden & Jessica Johnson: Grandson

Taylor Riley & Erica Johnson: Grandson

Crystal Erin & Ben Larmore: Granddaughter

Analyn & Mitch Sommer: Granddaughter

Lynea & Nathan Millward: Granddaughter

Alorah Brandell & Cory Hoyt: Granddaughter

Klarissa “LaVyrle” Johnson: Granddaughter

“Bubba” Shay Tarin Johnson: Grandson

Morgan Nolyn & Marie Cutler: Grandson

` Chloe Deann Johnson: Granddaughter

Emberlyn Johnson: Granddaughter

Joshua David Torgerson: Great-Grandson

Nathan Dale Torgerson: Great-Grandson

Abigail “Abby” Kirsten Torgerson: Great-Granddaughter

Daniel Hess Torgerson: Great-Grandson

Benjamin Thomas Torgerson: Great-Grandson

Zachary Ryan Torgerson: Great-Grandson

Nikole Carbine: Great-Granddaughter

Caleb Ekow Atta Ampiah-Davis: Great-Grandson

Ama Mbeaba Ampiah-Davis: Great-Granddaughter

Levi Kojo Essah Ampiah-Davis: Great-Grandson

Kofi Bennett Ampiah-Davis: Great-Grandson

Malaika Abena Ampiah-Davis: Great-Granddaughter

Venna Maraea Kereopa Rietbrock: Great-Granddaughter

Alaina McKenna Curran: Great-Granddaughter

Asher Vincent Curran: Great-Grandson

Marissa Latrese & Layne Brian Hamblin: Great-Granddaughter

Trichelle Kristine Curran: Great-Granddaughter

Kyle Patrick Urtnowski: Great-Grandson

Mirella Kaye Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

MaLeah Coralanne Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Merribeth Eve Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Kamailee Singh: Great-Granddaughter

Kiana Singh: Great-Granddaughter

Andrew “Andy” Singh: Great-Grandson

Antonio “Tonio” LaVerl Johnson: Great-Grandson

Eson Everett Johnson: Great-Grandson

Amara Marie Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Elijah Nolyn Johnson: Great-Grandson

Sofia Jolene Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Kora Joleen Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Quincy Ann Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Hannah Marie Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Sadie May Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Lucas Morris Johnson: Great-Grandson

Amelia Mary Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Daphne Margaret Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Violet Maylee Johnson: Great-Granddaughter

Nathan James Rangel: Great-Grandson

Alayna Marie Rangel: Great-Granddaughter

Aiden Spenser Rangel: Great-Grandson

Elias Juan Rangel: Great-Grandson

Haylie Henderson: Great-Granddaughter

Baylee Madrid: Great-Granddaughter

Azlynn Winn: Great-Granddaughter

Damian Christopher Johnson: Great-Grandson

Andrew Gene Johnson: Great-Grandson

Peter Eric Johnson: Great-Grandson

Matthew David Larmore: Great-Grandson

Nathan Benjamin Larmore: Great-Grandson

Brooklynn Jane Larmore: Great-Granddaughter

Cade Aaron Larmore: Great-Grandson

Harper Sommer: Great-Granddaughter

Delilah Cortney Hamblin: Great-Great-Granddaughter

Wrenzie Faye Lee: Great-Great-Granddaughter