Ione Johnson
Harold and Ione Johnson never attended Brainerd Technical College. None of their relatives went there. It was questionable whether either of them even set foot in its classroom building. However, Brainerd Technical College (now Central Lakes College) received a bequest totaling approximately $513,000 from the estate of Ione Johnson in 1990. At the time, this was the largest donation ever received by Brainerd Technical College and it was one of the largest single gifts ever received by the state technical college system.
Harold and Ione Johnson had lived near Fort Ripley since about 1978, after moving there from Gull Lake, where Harold (called “Doc”) worked as a chiropractor. Ione served as his medical secretary. The couple, who were childless, were “pretty much loners,” preferring to stay home and garden, said a neighbor. Harold died at age 88 following a heart attack and Ione died at age 81 of exposure after slipping on ice outside of her home.
Ione changed her will in 1988 to match the will Harold had left. Her will states “All the residue of my estate shall go to the Brainerd Technical College to be used for scholarships for needy but ambitious students searching for proficiency in trades or arts.”
Impact
“As a recipient of the Ione Johnson Scholarship Fund, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your support of Central Lakes College and its students. It means a lot to students such as myself that you believe in our efforts to reach our higher educational goals… I have come across every obstacle that would hinder my higher education and I have overcome every single one with the help of supporting individuals and organizations. The Ione Johnson Scholarship Fund will help me tremendously focus more on my education rather than seeking full time employment to pay for my school. Without this scholarship, I may not have been able to focus on my grades as much. It will also help me not worry so much about my financial situation. Once again, thank you for your generous gift to Central Lakes College and its students. Your support will go a long way in achieving my educational and career goals.”
- Spring 2015 Scholarship Recipient/Dental Assisting Student
“I am currently enrolled in the Welding and Fabrication program at CLC. Upon completing the course work I am planning to continue education and experience at the MN School of Diving within the Brainerd Lakes Area and later hope to travel to Alaska to work as a commercial diver. The financial assistance you provided will be of great help to me in paying for the required tools for the program, and it will allow me to concentrate more of my time for studying. Thank you again for your generosity and support. I promise you I will work very hard and eventually give something back to others, both as a teacher and possibly a scholarship to future students like myself. "
- Fall 2016 Scholarship Recipient/Welding and Fabrication Student