Mary Joann Johnson Snustad died peacefully at her home on September 12, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born to Isabel and Paul Johnson in Grafton, ND on September 2, 1950. She grew up in Moorhead, MN with siblings Phil, Betsy, and Jay. They spent their whole summers at the family cabin on Big Bass Lake near Bemidji, MN with all of her extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles.

She attended Concordia College in Moorhead where she studied Elementary Education, sang in the college concert choir, and made many lifelong friends. She married the deep love of her life on September 9th, 1972, and then moved to Okinawa Japan for a year. While there she taught 3rd and 4th grade at a military school. In 1974 they moved to Grand Rapids where they raised their two children. Mary was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and directed the children's choir for many years. She opened the Hand in Hand preschool in 1990 where she found great joy in teaching young children. She was a charter member of a babysitting co-op where she formed lifelong friendships. She loved deep talks, swimming, biking, singing, and sharing God's unconditional love for others. Mary was a lifelong learner and in 1999 she earned her master's degree in English as a Second Language. She and Jerry then spent a year in Slovakia teaching English at a bilingual high school. Mary also taught 2nd grade at Deer River North School, taught ESL to children in Grand Rapids and worked with Early Childhood programs. Mary's true passion was friends, family and especially her 5 grandchildren. She and her husband Jerry started and ran the Turning Point Retreat for 10 years until she contracted pancreatic cancer. She showed great determination and strength as she was 7 years cancer free and finally succumbed to liver failure. Mary has dedicated her body to the University of Minnesota medical school.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Isabel Fedje Johnson; father, J. Paul Johnson, and her brother, Phil Johnson.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Jerry Snustad; her daughter, Ann (Josh) Lysne; her son, Andrew Snustad; five grandchildren, Mara Lysne, Abby Lysne, Tait Snustad, Averi Snustad, Jake Snustad; her sister, Betsy (Jack) Johnson Crossen; and one brother, Jay (Julie) Johnson.

The celebration of her life will be on September 30, 2023, at 11:00am at Zion Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MN with a visitation one hour prior. A luncheon will be available following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Mary Jo Snustad Preschool Scholarship, c/o Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation, 350 NW 1st Ave Suite E, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.