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Helen Johnson, a long time resident of Electric City, died at home surrounded by family in Wenatchee on Jan. 22 2022. She was born in Sebeka, Minnesota, on Mar. 18, 1922. She was the third of five children born to Peter and Clara Ostlund and grew up on their farm near Sebeka. She had fond memories of growing up in a poor home with a supportive and loving family. She graduated from Sebeka High School in 1940 and attended a business school in Minneapolis for a year before taking a job at the Sebeka Post Office.
Helen married Bert Johnson on May 31, 1946. They had 4 children. After they were married they lived in Kansas City, Missouri, Monahans and Alpine Texas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jamestown, North Dakota, Burley, Idaho, and Ephrata, Washington, before moving to the Grand Coulee area. They lived in Electric City from 1963 until 2011 when they relocated to Wenatchee.
Helen and Bert were active members of the Grand Coulee Methodist Church. Some of her interests included gardening, quilting, square dancing, playing cards and visiting with friends, and traveling. Helen ran the Lehman Gardens flower shop in Grand Coulee during the 1970’s After Bert’s retirement from the Bureau of Reclamation they traveled extensively in their RV. They enjoyed a number of winters in Yuma, Arizona until they decided that they were not able to continue traveling.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bert, in 2014, after 68 years of marriage. She is survived by her children and their spouses Dennis and Barbara Johnson, Darlene Johnson and Bob Norman, Don Johnson and Kathi McKinley, and Kim and Wendy Beesley, and 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.
A memorial service is being planned for a date to be scheduled later.
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