Dora Johnson

Dora Antonietta Ojeda Johnson, 84, left mortality on February 24, 2026. A memorial service will be held at Spilsbury Mortuary on March 2.

Born in Arequipa, Peru, to Jose and Dora Ojeda, Dora was blessed by nature with beauty and intelligence. Life's trials blessed her with resilience and character. Among those trials were two major earthquakes and a revolution that brought Peru to its knees. Other struggles included losing hearing in one ear and suffering with arthritis most of her adult life. Despite a wide variety of challenges, she endured and developed a spirit of independence and inner strength.

In 1960, the Ojeda family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among the first to join the Church in Peru. In Arequipa, she graduated from high school with honors and began university studies, working during the day and attending classes at night.

She later moved to Utah, where she attended Brigham Young University, gaining a scholarship that helped fund her education. She graduated with a degree in business and was hired to work for First Security Bank. A year later, she was hired by the LDS church as a Spanish translator, working at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City. It was there that she met Randy Val Johnson, whom she married on March 23, 1979.

Dora loved growing things, whether they were plants (especially roses) or children. She and her husband were blessed with three children, two while they lived in West Jordan, Utah, and the third after they moved to Sandy, Utah. Their second child was born with Down syndrome, and Dora spent many hours with doctors and teachers helping Jenny thrive.

Family was always first for Dora. Although the family needed her additional income, she worked nights so she could be home with her children during the day. She retired after working 20 years for American Express. After her husband retired, the family moved to St. George.

A self-taught cook, Dora delighted family and friends with many delicious meals over the years. She was a romantic at heart and loved music, dancing, and a good romantic story. Beautiful. Elegant. Devoted. Strong. Loving. Those words settle easily in the minds of all who knew her.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Heather Gilbert, as well as Kim Nelson and the team at Dixie Hospice, for their compassionate care during Dora's final struggle.

Dora is survived by her husband, Randy Val; her three children, Randy (Sarah), Jennifer, and Vanessa (Fausto); and her three sisters, Ruth (Roger, deceased), Maritza (Norman, deceased), and Eliana (Galen). Her three brothers, Juan, Jose, and Gidalthi, preceded her in death.

A celebration of Dora's life will be held at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George, on March 2 at 11:00 a.m. A viewing is available at the mortuary between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. that same morning before the service.

Friends and family are invited to sign Dora's online guest book and share pictures and stories of her at www.spilsburymortuary.com, where access to a webcast of the service can also be found.