Laural A. Johns

Lauri Herreid-Ogden Johns, our loving daughter, mother, grandmother, wife and dear friend to everyone passed away at St. Patrick's hospital in Missoula, Montana on May 29, 2013 from natural causes, she was 53 years of age. She was born to Ada (now McCay) and Loyal Herreid in Polson, Montana on May 25, 1960. Her three favorite times of the year was Christmas, St. Patrick's Day and her birthday MONTH! Normal people celebrate a single day but Lauri celebrated the entire month of May and the din grew louder on the 25th. She spent her formable years growing up in Polson; began high school there and among other student activities, became a drum majorette. In 1976 during her junior year she transferred to Ronan High School. She graduated from RHS in 1978 with a solid grade point average of 4.0 and achieved other high honors. Armed with these things she then set out to add to her growing list of accomplishments; nursing. Lauri's grand and gentle heart reached out to everyone and in her mind there was no greater way to do that than to become a nurse. Lauri was always methodical and patient. Imagine the jubilance she had in her career choice of helping people? In Lauri's mind the first logical step was to become a Candy Striper; a hospital volunteer – to begin learning how to give care and love to others. However, her clear and concise battle plan was immediately changed – tragedy intervened on July 3, 1983 when she was injured in an automobile accident that left her paralyzed; instantly becoming a quadriplegic. But this event would merely be one of the stepping stones of her life to come. Through sheer determination of sustained will and bitter denial of her physical condition, both her and her equally determined mother embarked on a four-month-long crusade of intense and extensive physical therapy in a specialized hospital in Los Angeles, California where Lauri regained control of her arms (arms that she used regularly to hit her two sons and future husband) and partial use of her fingers and thumbs. But, the outlook was clear; she would spend the next thirty years of her life in a wheelchair. Lauri accepted the terms of her confinement and thought of it as simply being just another little 'ole thing. She refocused and embarked on something greater...she now had bigger fish to fry; she is going to college! In keeping with her loving heart and driving desire to be part of the helping professions Lauri was determined to become a psychologist. For her beginning courses she enrolled at Salish and Kootenai College from 1986 to 1993. In 1994 she enrolled at U of M and graduated from there in May 1996 acquiring a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. Despite the 4.0 grade point average she maintained during her stint at U of M and her being born hardly seventy miles north of Missoula, the intellects there said they couldn't possibly have thirteen chairs in their post-graduate psychology class and denied her entry into their program. Seeing as though Lauri had her own chair a person would think such an affluent college as U of M wouldn't have to hock something to buy another chair - so, not being dissuaded, yet being absolutely unable to understand why they couldn't grade a thirteenth student's papers, Lauri told them to stick it in their ear and enrolled in the University of Great Falls, Montana (it's a shame y'all couldn't have been there the day she opened the first alumni letter from U of M asking for a donation – her laugh resonated through the house then she slung the letter across the table yelling at the top of her lungs, "I oughta be sending them $&$#(#@ers a *$&#&%"# bill!). It was a 460-mile round trip twice a month to Great Falls with her sitting in her chair and a mandatory stay in a hotel sleeping on a "bed from hell". Instead, she could have had a 120-mile round trip to Missoula three times a week and sleep in her waterbed, which she referred to as being her "easy bake oven", but, always the trooper, Lauri dealt with the BS. In April of 1999 she was awarded the recognition of Delta Epsilon Sigma from the National Scholastic Honor Society; an honor given to those few whose learning achievements excels over others. She graduated from the University of Great Falls on August 6, 1999 with a Master's degree in Professional Counseling but her job wasn't over – she still had to complete 300 hours of internship guidance from other licensed counselors. Finally, on March 15, 2001, she received her license to practice psychology from the State of Montana. From the time following her injury and all during her college years she, along with her always supportive mother and step-father, raised two sons, became an instant aunt to others' children and befriended all wherever she went. Lauri had many hobbies; decorating cakes, crocheting, making porcelain dolls, and scrap wings". booking to name but a few. At one point she even became Den Mother for a troop of Cub Scouts from Pablo. For many years she was a vital member of Ronan Pioneer Days Company; ramrodding the parade, dealing with thousands of kids for the sheep rides, duck walks…the list seemed endless but to her it wasn't. During idle hours her real passion was cooking and when she was preparing meals she was a force to be reckoned with. A sane person wouldn't dare suggest a deviant ingredient or some other silly approach because there was always a wooden spoon handy and she had the power to transform that ordinary stirring implement into a deadly weapon. There's no doubt in our minds that if the Food Network gave an award for "Best Viewer" she'd be the hands-down winner. Lauri was dearly loved by and will be sorely missed by all. Before her passing she lost her maternal and paternal grand-parents, her sister, her father and step-father. Those still here to carry on her light are her mother (Ada), three sons (James, Michael and his wife, Robin and Weston and his wife, Emily), three grandchildren (Hayden, Gaylen and Alaina), her husband (Joe, whom she married on December 19, 1999) and the brother she never had, Kim Aipperspach and his wonderful family. Funeral arrangements were handled by Grogan Funeral Home in Polson and an Irish wake to celebrate her life was held at the family home in Pablo, Montana on June 1, 2013 with one hundred and fifty of her family and friends attending. Our family is thankful and extends our deepest gratitude for all the flowers, cards and outpouring of love and concern given by so many who knew her. There couldn't possibly be a truer testament to her character than the words written in one of her cards, "Lauri, you were always an angel, but now you have wings."
Read Laural Johns's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.