At 90, she’ll volunteer as long as she’s able
Marge Johnson has volunteered for The Salvation Army for more than 30 years. An impressive number, no doubt. But get this: Her streak started when she was 60. Now, at 90 years old, she’s helped cook more meals at The Salvation Army in St. Cloud than there are recipes in a Betty Crocker cookbook.
“I can’t sit around,” Johnson explained. “Even when I’m home watching TV, I have to be sewing. I have to be doing something.”
Her enthusiasm and youthful energy is quite considerable, a proper description of the United Kingdom native who arrived to the United States in 1946 from East London.
“When I was 5 years old I knew about The Salvation Army in London because William Booth started it maybe two or three blocks from where I was born,” she explained in her noticeably British accent. After nearly 70 years in the States, she hasn’t lost the accent, although it’s considerably different than when she arrived.
“I talked different than this when I came here and you couldn’t understand what I was saying,” she joked. “I always say I’m half English and half American.”
Johnson grew up during the height of “the war.” She was in her teens during World War II. At 20 she married an American pilot stationed in the U.K., and when he was ordered to return to the U.S., Johnson traveled with him. An adventurous spirit, she had no qualms about leaving her family behind in hopes of starting her own.
“I figured I’d try it and see what it’s like. If I didn’t like it I’d go home,” she explained. “In that same year I got pregnant, so what would you do?”
She stayed, for good.
She moved to Minnesota, raised a family, and periodically returned to the house she grew up in, blocks away from where The Salvation Army started. As it turned out, her son and his wife became Salvation Army church members, which gave her the idea to start volunteering. For the past three decades, she’s helped to cook things up at the St. Cloud Salvation Army.
“I enjoy it, I do enjoy it,” she said. “People say, ‘You don’t look your age.’ That’s why I keep going.”
She has fond memories of London. She remembers The Salvation Army had a big, beautiful building; the structure is still there, but it’s used as apartments now. She also recalls the time her family celebrated Christmas with the Army – a big Christmas dinner, with a stage show and plenty of gifts. She appreciated receiving then and she appreciates being able to volunteer now.
“I’ve been working since I was 14. I’m still working and I’m 90 years old,” she laughed.