Marybelle Meyer Ingebretson was born July 18, 1929 to parents Melvin and Minnie Ingebretson. She was the youngest of four children that included Kenneth, Evelyn, and Max. Baptized at Richland Lutheran Church, raised in the farming community of Thornton, IA, and steeped in the tradition of the family farm and the shared German/Scandinavian heritage. A bright child, she graduated from Thornton high school at 16 and went on to Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN, graduating at age 18 with her Associates degree. There she met and married seminary student Iver C Johnson at the age of 18 on June 13, 1948. They moved to Lime Creek, IA where she played a pivotal role in support of her young preacher husband ministering to Lutheran congregations in Lime Creek and Lake Mills, IA. While in Lime Creek, they welcomed into their lives children, Mary, Kirsten (Kiki), Chan, Matthew, and Anne. In 1957, she moved her family to Mankato, MN after Iver had received and accepted a call to teach at Bethany Lutheran College and High School and also joined the Mt. Olive Lutheran church community. It was in Mankato that youngest daughter, Siri, was born in 1965. In 1969, after a call to return to the ministry, they moved to W. St. Paul, MN to serve Saint James Lutheran Church. She remained in this area of the Twin Cities residing most recently at Walker Westwood Ridge Assisted Living facility at 61 Thompson Ave W, W St Paul, MN, until her peaceful death in the early morning August 25, 2015. Marybelle's interests were wide and varied, rooted in her firm foundational faith and love of reading. She enjoyed the outdoors; to walk, swim, fish, and garden were especially comforting. She loved to travel and see and learn new things. She kept detailed journals of all of her trips to places like Ireland, Turkey, Greece, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Italy, Norway, Germany, Alaska and Hawaii. She was a great supporter of the arts, had a beautiful singing voice, and talent with a paint brush. She shared these gifts with her church in the choir and the women's ensemble she founded - but also would occasionally sing a number or two at weddings (her favorite was the number 7). Marybelle's artistic sense manifest itself quickly as she took up cross stitching and Bauernmalerei Folk Art painting. She could turn a garbage can or old dresser into a thing of German beauty. An avid card player, she excelled at 500 and her favorite, Bridge, and always had time for a game of Thirty One or Slap Jack with her children - grand and great grand! And she loved to cook. Her gift of turning nothing into something was a blessing to her growing family and she never grew tired of finding new places and recipes to test and develop her culinary skills. Gathering together as a family was always a special time. She could turn three ingredients into a gourmet meal (but not without butter, of course)! Granddaughter, Erin, would say that "Grandma put the butter on the toasted buns long before Culver's ever gave it a thought!" But to simply sit down on a Sunday night with a bowl of popcorn and a Coke was a special favorite. It was with her family and in the community that she shared her greatest gift - her faith and her friendship. As a community volunteer she served as a reading mentor, on many committees, and at church - Ladies Guild, the Special Music Events Committee and Altar Guild. She wrote cards and letters to so many offering support and encouragement. She was a faithful friend. She shared her faith with her family and friends. Marybelle held firmly to her faith in the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the gift of divine incarnation in Jesus, the redemptive death on the cross to defeat Satan's power over us, and the resurrection of the body to eternal life. She held firmly that this gracious gift of God was afforded to all of us. She is survived by daughter, Mary Duncan and grandsons Arthur and Joel. Daughter, Kiki Schulz and son-in-law Paul, granddaughter Erin Perham (husband John), great granddaughter Harper; granddaughter Emily Laukkanen (husband Tom) and great granddaughter Ruby; and granddaughter Allison Gossman and great grandson Lincoln. Son, Chan and daughter-in-law Debbie, grandson Nick (wife Emily) and great grandson Christopher; and granddaughter Sally Elton (husband Jeremy) and great granddaughter Andie. Son, Matthew and daughter-in-law Stephanie, grandsons Matthew and Benjamin; granddaughers Phoebe, Hannah, and Chloe. Daughter, Anne Carter and son-in-law Doug, grandson Bill (wife Shannon) and great grandchildren Julia, Maya, Eli and Alexa; grandson John (wife Audra) and great grandsons Heath and Deven; grandsons Charles, Timothy, Greg, and Geoff. Daughter, Siri and grand dog Maggie! A private burial service will be held in Thornton, IA on Saturday, August 29th. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 3rd at Saint James Lutheran Church , 460 W. Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, 55118. There will be an opportunity to visit with the family one hour prior to the service at Saint James and after the service at a celebration in Marybelle's honor at the Downtowner Woodfire Grill from 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Memorials in Marybelle's honor can be sent to Saint James Lutheran Church or to the Walker Methodist Foundation (https://www.walkermethodist.org/about-us/walker-methodist-foundation/).