Mildred Johnson

Mildred had the strong will and self-determination to become the matriarch of her entire family. She was also a greatly admired gourmet cook who created delectable homemade dishes for her friends and family to enjoy. As a cook and a care-giver, Mildred led a remarkable life, using her many gifts as a means of bringing joy to others.

Mildred was born on March 10, 1910. Though America was the most industrialized country in the world, assembly lines and factories meant little to the Johnson family of Salinas, Ohio. They were farmers who lived a simple, but satisfying life built around family and hard work.

Mildred was the youngest of three children born to John and Ellen (Todd) Johnson. When she was still very young, her family moved from Ohio to a farm in Mendon, Michigan. Here, Mildred participated in a wide range of daily chores. Though many children would have felt burdened by the work, Mildred embraced farm life and liked to make herself useful. One of her favorite duties was cooking. She learned to make many things from scratch, including butter. Lard was a main ingredient in most everything she made. Even at a young age, Mildred often prepared entire meals for her family and she learned to appreciate the art of cooking.

By age 17, Mildred put her skills to use in a home of her own. She married a handsome young man named Clyde Bergeon, who worked as a tool and die maker in Kalamazoo. Once married, Mildred uprooted herself from her family’s Mendon farm. She and Clyde bought a home in the city so Clyde could be close to work. Though the house near Burdick St. was by no means a farm, Mildred tried to make herself at home. She missed farm life, but the arrival of her children helped to make the city house seem like a real home.

Charles, Betty, and JoAnna brought incredible joy into Mildred’s life. She truly embraced motherhood. She expressed her love in many ways, most notably through her delicious homemade food. Mildred made everything from scratch, just as she had as a child. Her homemade noodles were a favorite, as were her famed biscuits, homemade pies and potato bread.

By the early 1950s, Mildred and Clyde decided to end their marriage. The separation proved to be a major turning point in Mildred’s life. Her children were grown and she was ready to exercise her entrepreneurial spirit. It was not long before she transformed a house in Vicksburg into a special nursing home for Veterans. Word spread quickly about the incredible level of care her home offered, not to mention the amazing home cooked meals. Mildred successfully managed the facility for 15 years. By then, she was ready to try her hand at something new. She became a restaurateur, owning her own small restaurant on VW Avenue, just east of Portage Road. The business continued for the next four years. After the restaurant closed, Mildred moved her daughter and granddaughter to Paw Paw and then to Mattawan, where they lived together for the next 20 or so years.

Sunday dinners were always big events for Mildred. Her grandchildren knew that if they brought their grandmother the cooking supplies, she would craft them into fabulous food. The entire family would compliment Mildred for her mouth-watering meals, but Mildred was just glad her skills could go to good use. For Mildred, family was of the utmost importance. She even studied the genealogy of her family, tracing her ancestry back to the 1600s. Her other hobbies included fishing and watching old westerns on TV. She was an admitted news junkie as well. If friends or family needed to know the weather forecast, they did not need to watch TV or listen to the radio – they could just call Mildred. She always knew the latest pending weather conditions. Friends and family could also count on Mildred for whatever odds-and-ends they needed. She was a packrat who saved everything. It did not matter what it was - rubber bands, paper bags, butter tins - at some point, Mildred knew she would have use for it.

In 2000, Mildred’s declining health caused her to move into LakeView Continuing Care Center. Her family visited often and felt comforted by the high level of care she received.

Mildred experienced many things in her many years of life, yet her most treasured moments were those she shared with her family and friends. She cooked for them, learned from them, and taught them, by example, the rewards of kindness and hard work. Mildred became part of many people’s lives, and her memory will continue to be with them always.

Mildred A. Johnson died Thursday, June 24, 2004. She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Bergeon, daughter, Betty Mulligan and grand-daughter Mary Walker. Surviving are 2 children, JoAnna (George) Justice of Paw Paw, Charles (Nellie) Bergeon of Plainwell, 12 grandchildren; Julie (Joe) Soudek, Cheryl (John) Butler, Richard (Cindy) Bergeon, Mike Mulligan, Fred (Lori) Bergeon, Janice Sparks, Karlyn Mulligan, Pat Kendall, John (Shirley) Bergeon, Charles (Kelly) Bergeon, Terry Slayton, Billie (John) Phillips, 27 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren, many cousins, and her good friend Edith Nix.

Learn more about Mildred, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Home™, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw. A Celebration of Life service will be held Tuesday 11 a.m. at the same location. Food and fellowship will follow the service. Cremation will take place with interment of cremated remains at West Oshtemo Cemetery. Please visit Mildred’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make a memorial donation to the Veterans Administration, Hospice Care of Southwest MI or Church of God.

The family would like to thank the staff of the LakeView Continuing Care Center for the wonderful care for the past several years and to Hospice for all the help they provided in her final days.