Mona Johnson

Mona was a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a traveler, a friend and a matriarch for her family. Mona was born in Minnesota. She grew up in rural South Dakota and was raised in Brookings by Fritz Heinrich Moeller and Zola Eva Crawford. She graduated high school in 1952. In 1953, she married her first husband, Arley Backlund and moved to Storrs, Connecticut. In 1960, Mona welcomed her first born child, a son named Peter William Backlund. That marriage ended, and in 1964 she married David Marcus Johnson. David described their marriage as a "joining of minds and hearts" and in 1965 they moved to Albuquerque when David was hired at the University of New Mexico. Mona and David added two daughters to the family: Sarah Constance in 1966 and Maia Ann in 1972.

David and Mona spent much time together traveling. From a home base in New Mexico, they visited Greece and Mexico many, many times. A sabbatical allowed them to spend a year traveling in Europe. In future years, they were able to visit Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Spain, Scotland, Norway and Alaska. Mona spent many winters cross country skiing in the Jemez and summers in Mazatlan body surfing in the ocean. For several years they owned a home and a sailboat in San Carlos, Mexico. Mona loved sailing their boat, La Reina, on the Sea of Cortez.

Mona was a voracious reader and always had a book she was reading as well as numerous magazines that she would devour cover to cover. She was an expert seamstress, a talented cook with many specialties, and a fierce green thumb. She was oddly skilled with houseplants, she talked with them. Mona was a volunteer with the Albuquerque museum , and a co-founder and driving force behind the creation of the Preschool Co-Op and the La Montanita Food Co-Op. Mona had a career as a middle school (Eisenhower Middle School) and high school teacher (La Cueva High School). She was a gifted and wise educator, devoted to the vast number of students she taught over the years.

Mona was an exceptional woman, a cherished mother and grandmother, and a strong, powerful role model of feminine strength, equality, and beauty. She was deeply committed to her husband, children, and grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, by many friends and colleagues, and by her beloved grandson, David James. She is survived by David, her husband of nearly 60 years, her son, Peter, daughter-in-law, Roberta, two daughters, Sarah and Maia, and 3 beautiful granddaughters - Zola Maxine, Sonja Jean, and Elinor Maris.

Her family would like to thank her medical support team, especially Dr. Carla Herman and Dr. Charles Foucar. Also, many thanks to the staff from Bosque Trails Hospice and Home Instead Home Care.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life at UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel, Sunday March 2nd, 2025 at 1 pm. Reception to follow at David's home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Planned Parenthood in Mona's name.