Margaret Johnson

Margaret D. Johnson, age 91, of Saranac Lake, died Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake after several recent health crises.

Born in Saranac Lake, New York on April 09, 1926, she was the daughter of Mose and Mary Ainge (Trombley) DeForge who immigrated to New York from Valleyfield Quebec.

Margaret married Norman R. Johnson on January 12, 1948 at St. Bernard’s Church, Saranac Lake.

Mrs. Johnson was a lifelong resident of Saranac Lake. She attended and graduated from Saranac Lake High School Class of 1944, winning several awards for her artwork, drawing talent, and typing and shorthand skills. Near the end of World War II she worked for the War Department in Washington D.C. as a secretary from 1945 to 1946. After returning to Saranac Lake she did clerical and bookkeeping work at Starks Hardware for many years and then worked as a legal secretary at various law firms in town including Andrew J. McGarrity, who had a prominent office within the Hotel Saranac. She later went to work for the Bank of Lake Placid (now NBT Bank) in Saranac Lake from the mid 1960’s to 1988, retiring as the Branch Manager. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court 787 St. Bernard and served as a volunteer following Sunday services at St. Bernard’s Church for many years. She enjoyed speaking French with her parents as it was their primary language. She loved reading, cooking, stamp collecting, and was especially interested in the British Royal Family. In her younger years, she enjoyed being outdoors in the Adirondacks by gardening and playing golf at the Saranac Lake Golf Club in Ray Brook.

She is survived by her husband Norman of Saranac Lake, one son Paul Johnson of Saranac Lake and one daughter Norma Johnson of Saranac Lake, two grandsons Timothy Johnson of Saranac Lake and Derek Johnson of Glens Falls and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 Pm on Friday, January 26, 2018 at St. Bernard's Church, with Fr. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will take place in Pine Ridge Cemetery in Saranac Lake in May.

Friends wishing to remember Margaret D. Johnson may make memorial contributions to St. Bernard's Church or Catholic Daughters of America Court 787 St. Bernard in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.