Minnesota Then
Johnson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 9, 1919, to John Jr. and Esther Holtby. She was the fourth of six daughters and grew up in the Jordan neighborhood on the city's north side. While her sisters were quiet and reserved, she was effervescent and vivacious—an extrovert among introverts, as she later described herself. She graduated from North High School in 1937 and went on to study Home Economics at the University of Minnesota.
Her mother was a fabulous baker, and helping her in the kitchen drew her into the craft. She recalled her first foray into baking at age 8, making a chocolate cake with her mother. Hearing her mom offer a slice to a family friend was all she needed—she was hooked for a lifetime. Those early experiences, combined with watching her mother bake everything from scratch during the Depression, taught her resourcefulness and a love for homemade baked goods.
Marjorie graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics, majoring in Foods in Business and minoring in Journalism, where she also met her future husband, LeRoy "Lee" Johnson, who was enrolled in dental school. Lee was quiet and reserved, a striking contrast to Marjorie's high-energy personality. Despite these differences, they married in 1946 and had three children: Marilee, Marleen, and Steven. In 1968, they purchased a split-level home in Robbinsdale, where they raised their family.
Until age 55, Johnson baked solely for family and friends. In 1974, she entered four baked items in the Minnesota State Fair, winning two second-place ribbons and one third-place ribbon. This initial success gave her the encouragement needed to pursue competitive baking more seriously. Over the following decades, she refined her techniques, often testing recipes multiple times and working late into the night. Johnson became a consistent champion at the fair, establishing herself as a top contender in multiple categories.
Johnson's vibrant personality and impressive baking accomplishments drew the attention of Minnesota media, most notably resulting in frequent guest appearances on KSTP radio's Garage Logic with host Joe Soucheray. She became the show's first annual guest at the Minnesota State Fair, a tradition upheld for decades. Those annual interviews—often broadcast live from the State Fair grounds—served as the primary launchpad for her national recognition.
Her first appearance on national television was in November 1996 on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Between then and 2002, Johnson appeared twelve times as a featured guest, with her signature red dress becoming part of her persona. She then spent two years as a recurring guest on The Wayne Brady Show, appearing more than twenty times until the show concluded in 2004. In December 2006, Johnson appeared on The View, reuniting with Rosie O'Donnell.
The following month, she made her first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Between 2007 and 2013, Johnson appeared twenty-one times—first as a baking guest, then as a roving correspondent covering events as varied as the Emmys, Golden Globes, NBA Finals, and X-Games. On the October 4, 2007 episode, she reported live from the Las Vegas Bike Fest biker rally, where she famously learned that you could, in fact, dunk ginger snaps in Jack Daniels.
Though she charmed national television audiences, Johnson never let widespread fame eclipse her connection with Minnesota media and fans. She remained a mainstay at the State Fair, appearing with Garage Logic, KSTP, KARE‑11, and other local outlets. Her contributions to the community were formally recognized in April 2007, when the Robbinsdale mayor declared it Marjorie Johnson Day. Later that year, she published her first cookbook, The Road to Blue Ribbon Baking, featuring 104 recipes selected from her many award-winning entries.
At the heart of Marjorie's world was her family. In 2013, her beloved husband of sixty-seven years, LeRoy "Lee" Johnson, passed away at the age of 95. She described him affectionately as a "blue ribbon person," affirming that their marriage was her favorite relationship. Six years later, in 2019, to celebrate her 100th birthday, Johnson returned to national television as a guest baker on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where she was interviewed alongside Jay Leno.On October 30, 2025, with her children by her side, Johnson passed away in hospice care. She was 106.
While her media fame spanned decades, Johnson's true legacy was forged at the Minnesota State Fair. Over nearly 50 years of competitive baking, she amassed an estimated more than 2,500 ribbons, including over 1,000 blue ribbons at the Fair alone. Her competitive drive remained strong, highlighted by a major late-career victory at the inaugural pie-baking contest for The Martha Stewart Show in 2009, where she bested 161 contestants with her pecan-toffee pie.
Beyond the ribbons, fans remember her for her dynamic personality and rapid-fire train of thought. She was infectiously joyful, radiating kindness and enthusiasm for life, and never denied herself a treat or two.