Patricia "Pat" Ellen Johnson, age 88, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2026 in Watertown. A pioneering educator, devoted family matriarch and lifelong learner, Pat leaves behind a legacy of leadership, service and dedication to her family and community. Celebration of Life Services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Pastor Steve Biswell will officiate.
Burial will be at Prairie Valley Cemetery in Raymond.
Pat was born on May 29, 1938, in Rapid City, S.D., to Lloyd and Aretta Johnson. Her early childhood was spent in Wasta, Custer and Oelrichs, before her family settled in Raymond, S.D. From an early age, pat showed a remarkable aptitude for numbers and mathematics. Encouraged by her parents and grandparents, she was already solving fourth-grade math problems before starting school.
Pat completed her elementary and high school years in Logan where her leadership skills and scholarly nature quickly emerged. She was active in Glee Club, school plays, dramatics, the school newspaper, cheerleading and was crowned Carnival Queen. She represented her school at South Dakota Girls State and graduated as class valedictorian. During this time, she was active in 4-H, holding several leadership roles and honing her passion for sewing, crafting her own clothing and rodeo attire for herself and her sister and garments for her family. She credited 4-H to developing confidence in public speaking.
Pat continued her education at the State University of South Dakota in Vermillion where in five years she completed her bachelor's and master's degrees. Though initially captivated by the space program she transitioned to mathematics and physics when additional astronomy courses were unavailable. In college, Pat served on the Student Senate, edited the mathematics journal Mathematics Unlimited, was a member of ISA, AWS, the Math Club and Alpha Lambda Delta and was awarded several academic scholarships. She was also inducted into the prestigious Delta Kappa Gamma Society. It was during her college years, while practice-teaching both at the secondary level and within the university's math department, that Pat discovered her true calling—education. Recognizing that as a teacher she could inspire generations of future leaders, she dedicated her life to instilling an appreciation for mathematics and technology in others.
Following her graduation, Pat moved to Watertown, S.D., where she bought her own home and began what would become a distinguished 42-year career with the Watertown School District. Starting as a mathematics instructor, computer programming teacher and Mathematics Department Chair at Watertown Senior High, Pat was a visionary who led the district's transition into the digital age. She eventually became the Director of Computer Services for the district, a position that became her life's work and served as a platform for supporting area schools and schools across the state, conducted workshops throughout the region to help teachers adapt to new technologies, and frequently surprised out-of-district administrators who were unexpected to find a woman at the forefront of technology leadership during that era.
For her contributions to education, Pat was recognized for Exemplary Curriculum Leadership, received the Outstanding Area Educator Award, and was recipient of the National Technology Educator of the Year Distinguished Achievement Award and was received the Pioneer Award for "Making it Happen" in Technology. She served on the Board of Directors for both the South Dakota Association of Microcomputer Educators and the South Dakota Technology and Education Consortium and held the office of Vice President for the South Dakota Teachers of Mathematics Association.
Despite her busy career, Pat remained deeply connected to her rural roots. She took on the responsibility of helping manage the family farm in Raymond, commuting back and forth every weekend and during the week as needed. In her younger years, she was an avid horseback rider, winning numerous ribbons at regional shows with her horse, Buttons. She possessed a true green thumb, cultivating vibrant vegetable and flower gardens at both the Raymond farmhouse and her home in Watertown. She loved digging in the dirt, became a Master Gardener and took great pride in her flowers. To this day, she maintained a beautiful front-yard flower garden.
Following her retirement, Pat remained deeply engaged with her community as a member of the Watertown Retired Teachers Association and served for over 20 years in the South Dakota Retired Teachers Association, where she held every officer role except secretary. She was instrumental in establishing a continuing education scholarship fund for teachers, fueled in part by semi-annual fundraising trips across the Midwest and Canada that she thoroughly cherished.
Above all, Aunt Pat was the heart of her family. After her mother's passing, she embraced the role of matriarch and "grandma" to her nieces and nephews. She encouraged their education and traveled to school events, track meets, rodeos and graduations. And, she made sure her nieces and nephews knew how to use the computer. Pat was interested in ancestry, the keeper of family heirlooms and solved several family genealogy mysteries. Pat utilized technology and social media to keep in touch with family members and always loved receiving photos, videos and text messages.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Aretta Johnson; her grandparents, Ed and Jenny Shuhart; her brother, David Johnson; and her sister-in-law, Marilyn Johnson.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Lynda and Darryl Biers; their daughters, Shannon Amiotte and Darcy Fierro; her brother David's children, Terry Kucera, Pam Choal, Lori Choal, Curt Johnson and Bryce Johnson; as well as a multitude of great and great-great nieces and nephews, extended family, former students and friends.
Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti.
