Sharalyn "Toots" Johnson

Tribute to Sharalyn “Toots” Beth (Pittack) Johnson

Funeral services for Sharalyn Johnson, age 92, of Surprise Arizona (formerly of Plainview, Nebraska) will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Plainview. Visitation will be Friday, January 9, 2026, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the church. Sharalyn passed away at Alegent Health Lakeside Hospital in Omaha on December 26, 2025, surrounded by family. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Plainview is overseeing the arrangements.  condolences may be directed to the family at www.snidermemorial.com

Sharalyn “Toots” Beth Johnson entered the world on August 31, 1933, born to Ernest and Hulda (Roewert) Pittack. She was baptized October 15, 1933, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church south of Plainview, beginning a lifelong journey of faith that would guide her through every season of her life.

She grew up in Pierce County, attending District 22 grade school years. She was confirmed by Reverend Eno Buddle at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church December 29, 1946. A proud graduate of Plainview High School’s Class of 1950, Sharalyn carried with her a strong work ethic, a deep sense of family, and a quiet confidence that shaped the decades to come.

On October 7, 1951, she married the love of her life, Mervin Nels Johnson, at Zion LutheranChurch with Reverend Theo Stolp officiating. Together they built a life rooted in devotion, partnership, and community. They welcomed two daughters, Becky Jo and Pamela Jean, and made their home in Antelope County before settling in Plainview in 1958. In 1993, Sharalyn and Mervin embraced a new chapter, spending most of their year in Surprise, Arizona, where she became a joyful and faithful presence at Lord of Life in Sun City West. Her faith remained her compass—steady, comforting, and unwavering.

Sharalyn lived a life of service, leadership, and hospitality. She served as an officer of the Women’s Golf Association, was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and was a devoted Sunday School superintendent and teacher. She and Mervin owned the Headquarters Restaurant in Plainview, where Sharalyn’s cooking became beloved by the community. It was a place where people gathered not just to eat, but to connect—because she infused every meal with warmth, generosity, and welcome.

During planting and harvest seasons, her kitchen in the Johnson fields became a gathering place for family and friends working the farmland. Her meals fueled long days and created memories that lingered far beyond the fields. She supported her brothers in their businesses, serving as clerk for her brother Mick’s auctions and helping Harold (Hap) and Edwin at Pittack Ford Sales when needed. She was the sister who always showed up-steady, capable, rolling up her sleeves to be of assistance.

Family and friends were the center of Sharalyn’s world. She was the hub—the steady, glowing heart that kept everyone close. Time spent with her always ended in laughter, stories, and the unmistakable feeling of being loved. Her home reflected her spirit: beautifully decorated for every season, elegant yet inviting, and always ready to welcome guests. Whether hosting holiday gatherings, welcoming “snowbird” friends and family to Arizona, or simply gathering everyone around the dining room table, she created spaces where people felt cherished.

Sharalyn delighted in music, golf, card games, friendships, and the simple joy of lending a hand. She treasured her retirement years with her SunVillage community of neighbors and friends, her return visits with her Nebraska friends, the family reunions, and the chance to share her cooking and baking with others. But nothing brought her more joy and pride than her grandchildren and great-grandchildren—their conversations, their accomplishments, their laughter, and the legacy they carry forward.

As she embarks on what her mother lovingly called “Life’s Greatest Journey,” Sharalyn leaves behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, and caring. She hoped to be remembered with smiles and warm memories—through the stories shared, the laughter recalled, and the countless moments of love she gave so freely. When you think of “Toots,” she wanted you to feel happiness, to remember the warmth she brought into your life and every life she touched, and to know that those memories continue with her now.

Sharalyn was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Mervin, her daughter Becky, six brothers, two sisters, one brother-in-law, six sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her daughter Pamela Johnson-Carlson of Elkhorn, Nebraska; grandson Colin Carlson (Dani) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; granddaughter Caitlin Jorgensen (Nick) of Fremont, Nebraska; great- grandchildren Grayson and Ari Jorgensen (Fremont, Nebraska), Quinn, Hayes, and Rhys Carlson (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho); and many beloved relatives, nieces, nephews, and friends.

She will be laid to rest at Pleasant View Cemetery in Plainview, Nebraska—returning home to the community she loved so deeply.