Iona M. Wood

Iona M. (Johnson) Wood, age 94, formerly of Parkers Prairie, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Gulf Coast Memory Care near her daughter in Estero, Florida.

A memorial service will be held in September in Parkers Prairie, with inurnment following at Woodside Cemetery in rural Parkers Prairie. 

Iona Marion Johnson was born on June 24, 1930, to Raleigh and Ethel (Hadley) Johnson. She grew up in Parkers Prairie and graduated from high school in 1948. Shortly after graduation, Iona married Harry Wood and moved to the family farm near Bertha. The couple started their family and lived on the farm until moving to Fergus Falls, where Iona worked at the State Hospital. After retirement, Harry & Iona moved back to Parkers Prairie, where they enjoyed many years with longtime friends and neighbors. Following Harry’s death in 2018, Iona moved to Minneapolis with her daughter, Nancy, and in 2020 relocated to Estero, Florida. She continued living with her daughter and family for a couple of years until she decided to try a short stay at Gulf Coast Memory Care. Enjoying the people and activities there, Iona chose to make it her home full time.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harry Wood; son, Thomas; and sister, Betty Samuelson. 

Iona is survived by her daughter, Nancy Wood and son-in-law, Rick Rice of Estero, Florida; niece, Kendra (Samuelson) Sorenson of Apache Junction, Arizona; and nephew, Kerry Samuelson of Elk River, Minnesota. 

Memorials preferred to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 609 S Douglas Ave, Parkers Prairie, MN 56361.