Elizabeth Marie Tester

Elizabeth Marie Tester (Gatten) (Johnson) was born on September 24th, 1940, and passed away on May 19, 2026, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 85.

She was born in Roseau, Minnesota, to Adolph and Mabel Johnson and grew up in Roseau, Minnesota, on a farm. She went to school in Roseau, where she graduated from high school in 1959. After high School, she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Florence and Russell Orr, in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and attended the Polk County Teachers College. When a classmate introduced her to Harry Gatten, Liz married Harry. They had two children, Michael and Brian. They relocated to Grantsburg, where Harry worked for Burnett County, snow plowing and road construction. Liz taught 7th grade at the junior high for 1 year and then took time off to raise her children. A few years later, return to work at a Northern manufacturing company as an office secretary for 40 years.

Liz was involved in many community activities, such as Cub Scouts and the Faith Lutheran Church in Grantsburg. After a sudden death, Harry passed away on October 25th, 1988. A year later, she remarried Bobby Tester, who also worked at a Northern manufacturing company for 40 years. When they both retired, they traveled each winter in a mobile home to Palm Springs, California, where Bob's children live, and to Phoenix, Arizona, where her brother, wife, and cousins live.

Liz was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Mabel Johnson, and her husbands, Harry Gatten and Bob Tester. Two brothers Leroy Johnson, Donny Johnson, brother-in-law Jim Gatten, his wife Helen Gatten, brother-in-law Lawrence and Lewis Gatten, sister-in-law Myrtle Goodley, and her husband Ben Goodley.

She is survived by her sons Michael and Brian Gatten. And stepchildren Doyle and Dickie Tester. Sister-in-law Edda Johnson, nieces Marty Gatten, Patty Johnson, Debbie Cooper, nephews Paul Gatten, Jeff Gatten. Liz leaves behind a village of wonderful friends, her best friend Reva Goepfert, neighbors, and church family. Many of whom helped care for her in the past few years.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, at Calvary Covenant Church in Alpha, Wisconsin. A time of fellowship will follow the service, with coffee, lemonade, cookies, and bars provided. Interment will take place at Oakland Cemetery in Danbury, Wisconsin, located on County Road C, following fellowship with family.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at swedberg-taylor.com.