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Salina, KS: Marian Patricia “Pat” Johnson, aged 72, of Salina, KS, passed away at her home on August 26, 2026. She was born on August 13, 1954, in Maryville, MO to Leo Joseph (Joe) and Catherine (Katie) Protzman of Conception. MO.
Pat graduated from Jefferson C-123 Schools in Conception Jct., MO in 1972. Pat later obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Human Relations from MidAmerica Nazarene University. She married Martin (Randy) Johnson in 1973, and from that union, their daughter, Randi Lee, was born.
Pat worked for various telecommunication companies, beginning as a telephone operator, and briefly as one of the first female line workers, at Southwestern Bell, in Maryville, MO. Over the years Southwestern Bell became United Telephone, Sprint/Nextel, and Embarq, and she worked for the company throughout all of those name changes, in various roles including Sourcing, Contract Negotiation, and Vendor Management, and Process Reengineering Specialist. She retired from the phone company in 2008. In 2010, she began employment with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) as a quality lead, and transitioned to Deputy Program Manager, Quality Operations in 2013. She finally “officially” retired in 2019, and moved from Olathe, KS to Salina, KS that fall, in order to serve as a local “home base” for her granddaughter who was attending school at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS and Sterling College in Sterling, KS.
Pat enjoyed traveling, doing anything with and for her three grandchildren, and spending quality alone time with her laptop and mystery novels. She loved Christmastime and passed on the Protzman family tradition of baking Santa Claus cookies to her granddaughter, who was tasked with keeping the mojitos coming during the baking and decorating process. Pat took pride in her gift-giving skills, always getting just the right gifts for her people. Her absence will be felt all the more greatly in the upcoming birthdays and holiday seasons, especially when it’s time to play board games with the family, where her competitive nature was fully on display.
Pat is survived by her daughter, Randi (Christopher) McMillen, King City, MO, grandsons, Matthew McMillen, Maryville, MO and Shelby McMillen, Independence, MO, favorite granddaughter, Kierstyn McMillen, Nebraska City, NE, brothers, Francis “Herb” Protzman, Midwest City, OK, and Jim (Terri) Protzman, Conception, MO, sisters, Susie (Paul) Schieber, Maryville, MO, Alicia (Harold) Lewis, Graham, MO, and Emma Kennedy, Bethany, MO, former spouse, Martin “Randy” Johnson, Stanberry, MO, and a multitude of cousins, nieces, and nephews. In addition to her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her brothers, Leo Protzman and Paul “Buck” Protzman, and sisters, Martha “Sis” Meng, and Mary “Teddy” Runde.
Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3 at Roberson Funeral Home, Stanberry, MO. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Pat’s memory may be made to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Sheffield Place, New Nodaway Human Society, and/or Rondal McDonald House in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 153, Stanberry, MO 64489. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com
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