Alice was born on January 29, 1923 in Owatonna, MN to her parents, Edward and Anna (Antl) Pichner. At the age of 16 she moved to Minneapolis attending and graduating from Cosmetology School and for several years worked as a beautician in the Foshay Tower in the city. Little did she know that the man to be her husband years later worked several stories above in the same building. Instead, they met one weekend at a resort in Nisswa, MN when Alice noticed a sailor at the bar and the dance began of their lifetime together. After a long courtship, Ernest V Johnson and Alice A Pichner were united in marriage on October 25, 1947 when they eloped to Chicago, IL. They were married 50 years and bound their family in love for each other and faith in the Lord. Ernie was an accountant, but woodworking was his inherent gift and he built their first humble home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Anoka MN, which at that time was on a gravel dead-end road. Neighbors were more like family in this place. This is where Alice had her “beauty shop” in the basement. They moved later to Denver, CO for 7 years due to a job transfer for Ernie, and then Scottsbluff, NE for over 50 years where she and Ernie owned a hardware store until retiring. But, it was the place on the river most dear to Alice’s heart and the one place she remembered to ask about when other memories had faded.
Alice learned how to sew and knit from her Aunt Emma, whose home she shared when attending beauty school. She carried that skill of using needles and thread or skeins of yarn for the entirety of her life. She enjoyed putting good food on the table with love from her kitchen and made the best rhubarb pie, homemade cinnamon rolls and crispies. The gift of hospitality was natural for Alice – her door always open for visitors and a cup of coffee with sweets. Most of all, tending her vegetable and flower gardens touched her soul. She would say, “You are never closer to God than when you’re on your knees in the dirt.” Serving her family took priority, as did serving the Lord, including countless hours of sewing quilts for missions or knitting baby booties for the hospital; idleness wasn’t her nature.
Alice is survived by her daughters: Kristine (Allen) Henderson, Carolyn (Michael) Meter, Grandchildren: Kandi (Ben) Lovin, Kelly (Erin) Henderson, Kristen (David) Willingham, Austin (Tiffany) Meter, Cameron (Kylie) Meter, and Nate (Paige) Meter. Twelve Great Grandchildren, two nieces and one nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son (Gary – age 11), son-in-law (Allen Henderson), sister (Margaret Dostal), brother (Fred Pichner) and three nieces.
As she would witness her faith and point to the sky saying, “I’m ready to go!”, she has left a legacy for those she touched with an endurance to be admired, not just by her family, but even in these last few years in the Lincoln nursing home. She longed for heaven, but preserved to be kind and humble despite the cruel frailty of her body bearing 103 years and 8 months. She thanked God for her family daily and wanted each one to know her love and that she was proud of them. As her tears fell, these were her last and precious words to carry with us until we meet again in Glory! May God be Praised!
A memorial service will be held at Roper and Sons Funeral Home, South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive, Lincoln, NE on Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 2:30 pm with a luncheon to follow. Burial at a later time in Frederick, WI.