Vera Ange Johnson Southwell passed away on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at the age of 84. She was born on July 15, 1922 in Canova, South Dakota, the daughter of Arthur and Sara Johnson. Vera graduated from Canova High School in 1940. She served with the United States Army at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas during the Korean conflict. She was the first woman assigned to Beaumont Army Hospital. Vera’s early years were spent working in South Dakota in the medical profession. She moved to Arizona, in 1954 to work for doctors Knight & Carr. In 1957 she married Elmer Southwell. To this union, one daughter, Linda was born. Vera worked at Fort Grant from 1967 to 1972. She worked for three years at the Arizona State Department of Corrections before returning to work at the Safford Clinic. Her forced retirement came at the age of 80.
Vera was preceded in death by her parents; her twin sister Velma, her husband, Dr Richard R Ross, her husband Elmer Southwwell. She is survived by her daughter Linda; grandaughter, Stevie Elise, sister Janis Wingen and husband Jerry, four nephews, Tony (Kris) Wingen, and children; Corey, Sara and Jessica; Todd (Elise) Wingen, and sons; Daniel and Eric; Timothy (Terri )Wingen and children: Kelly, Jack, Erin and Matthew; and Troy Wingen.