Johnson, Laurie Koren, age 65, of Darlings Beach at Lac Pelletier, passed away July 31, 2025, at Clover House 4 of the Meadows in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
The Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm August 9, 2025 in the Eagles Hall in Swift Current.
The Master of Ceremonies was Laura Orr, who also gave a prayer, and some of her memories of Laurie. The Eulogy was read by Laurie (English) Paul. Letters and stories were supplied by all those who wished to.
The pallbearers were her nephews: Curtis and Adam Hope; and grandson’s Tyden and Mayson Johnson.
Laurie is survived by her husband Kenneth Johnson; son Andy Johnson; son Ryan Johnson and wife Miranda; grandsons: Tyden, Mayson, and Jasper Johnson; sisters: Marlynn (Bill) Robertson, and Judi Rodier; brother Gary Flodell, and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by: father Roy Flodell; mother Virginia Larson; sister Koren Flodell; brothers-in-law: Ken Hope, and Robert Rodier; Nephew Terry Hope.
Laurie Koren Flodell was born on August 24, 1959 in Melfort, Saskatchewan to parents Roy and Virginia Flodell. Weighing only 3 pounds 2 ounces, Laurie spent the first few months of her young life in the hospital. Laurie was a fighter and she eventually left the hospital a stranger to her mother. She grew up on the family farm located 6 miles north of Beatty, Saskatchewan and attended school at Kinistino, Saskatchewan graduating in 1977. As a teenager, Laurie was diagnosed with Lupus, which she managed mostly successfully for her whole life.
Laurie started working as a waitress for the High Low Hotel restaurant in Melfort, Saskatchewan. After a one year stint there she took employment as a Proof Reader for the Melfort Journal newspaper for the next 4.5 years. Laurie was blessed with a son ‘Andy’ in April 1981, and choose to raise him herself as a single parent.
In October 1982, Laurie met her future husband Ken Johnson and they were married in Melfort on August 27, 1983. In April 1984, they were blessed with another son Ryan. They were both active there in the Melfort Jaycees and Jaycets. Laurie worked at home, sitting children after leaving the paper when she had Ryan.
In November 1987, the family moved to Swift Current when Ken took a promotion as a Supervisor with SAMA. Laurie worked from home for the first couple years sitting preschool children. She also took on part time work as a waitress at the Eagles, and a counter person at Orange Julius for 5 years. Laurie was a hard worker, and was eventually promoted to the head waitress/manageress at the Eagles Lounge. In 2000, Laurie opted for a career change and went back to school while keeping her full-time job, to become a CCA (Special Care Aide). After graduation in 2001, Laurie worked part time at the Swift Current Care Centre and eventually got at full time job at the Palliser Regional Care Centre. She worked there until the facility was decommissioned and moved to work at The Meadows. She loved her job as a CCA and was loved by her fellow nurses and aids for her hard work, sense of humor, and the loving kind care she gave to her patients.
Laurie was extremely active in her local Aerie of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary. Laurie spent over 20 years in various roles on the local executive serving as Madame President in 1997-1998, and was also elected to the Provincial Alberta/Saskatchewan executive in 1999 where she rose to the high rank of Provincial Madame President in 2003 - 2004. Her career with the Provincial Auxiliary took her to many locations culminating in the Grand Convention in Reno Nevada in 2004.
As her boys grew up, Laurie especially loved watching them play hockey and soccer. Recently, she loved watching her two grandsons Tyden and Mayson playing football. She was a Boston Bruins, Swift Current Broncos, and Toronto Blue Jays fan. She loved movies, especially horror movies, the ‘Big Bang’ t.v. show, playing cards, cooking, visiting on her pontoon boat, and Bud Lite Beer.
In June of 2019, Laurie suffered a heart attack while at work. It was the quick work of the Nurses there that started life saving procedures to get her to the adjacent hospital. Laurie was helicoptered out to the Regina General Hospital, where she eventually recovered to return home at the end of June 2019. Unfortunately, her health had deteriorated to the point that she could no longer do the job she loved, and after her disability leave expired, she decided to retire after 21 years. In July 2021, Laurie and Ken moved from Swift Current to their Lake house at Lac Pelletier, where she continued to reside until her illness hospitalized her.
Laurie was diagnosed with colon cancer on May 6, 2025, and by May 10, she was told it had progressed to incurable stage 4 cancer. Surgery to perform an Ileostomy in Saskatoon on May 22, confirmed that her cancer would not be cured.
On June 6, Laurie was transferred to Clover House at The Meadows. She had several, two day passes, where she was able to return to her beloved Lake House, taking her last boat ride around the lake on July 11, and last night stay on July 25. On July 30, Laurie spoke her last words as she called for her boys to come say goodbye. The nurses and staff did all they could to keep her comfortable until the morning of July 31, when Laurie passed away with her husband by her side.
A private Interment will be determined later for the immediate family.
Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society and Lupus Research may be made on Laurie’s behalf.
Arrangements entrusted to Warren’s Funeral Home. For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit the website http://www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.