Janice Winifred Johnson Obituary (2025)

Life and Times of Janice W. Johnson Janice W. Johnson, almost 99, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 24, 2025. Janice was born in 1926 to a German/Scandinavian family at their farmhouse in NE Iowa. The farm home was where she lived for the first 19 years of her life, along with her only sister, Cynthia (Borrud). Janice's elementary to high school education was in Iowa and Minnesota. She earned her teaching certificate at Winona State College. While teaching elementary school, she was courted by Ronald Reed (a long-time school friend) and they were married in 1948. The married couple lived and worked on an Iowa farm, where they started a family which eventually tallied seven girls, including a set of identical twins (as one daughter noted: triple, double trouble plus one). The family moved to California in 1957 and lived on a large dairy. Janice was active in PTA (president), 4-H club and Blue Bird groups along with ferrying youngsters to swim lessons, art-in-the-park, the library, and serving gallons of Kool-Aid and cookies to the backyard crowd. In 1962, the family moved back to the Midwest, first to Illinois and then to Story City, Iowa where they again resided on a large diary. Janice took a job in 1964 at the Story Co. State Bank where she worked for 26 1/2 years (as part of the infamous money gang) until she retired. The bank position supported the family after Ronald passed away following open-heart surgery in 1965. Janice's time in Story City was full of activities from her work at the bank, church, 4-H, PEO, board member of the Story City Memorial Hospital and sewing a garment a week for growing girls. Story City was also where love bloomed again, and in 1983 she married Roy Johnson (they eloped to the Black Hills for a ceremony officiated by her brother-in-law, Dick Borrud with her sister Cynthia in attendance). With Roy, Janice gained a second loving family and she and Roy enjoyed several years of travel and adventures before Roy's passing in 1987. Over the years, Janice embraced traveling, from road trips to international tours, touching down on five different continents. Her travels included meeting new additions to the family through weddings and the exciting arrival of grandchildren and later attending their graduations. In 2003, Janice made the move from the Midwest to Ellensburg, WA to be closer to family. In Ellensburg, she was welcomed into another loving neighborhood and community with family, church, quilting groups, PEO, card parties, scholarship luncheons and hosting family and friends. There wasn't a cookie or cup of coffee she didn't enjoy when shared with family and friends. Janice is survived by her seven daughters and a stepson: Colleen Crow (Jim), Phyllis Reed (Paul Wagner), Shelly Ellstrom, Sharrie Reed, Mary Rehn, Ruth Reed, Laurie Reed, and Brad Johnson,(Donna), her sister, Cynthia Borrud (Richard) of Ellensburg, as well as many nieces and nephews, 13 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. The family would like to express their gratitude to all who have supported, loved and cared for Janice over the years. She was blessed with a loving neighborhood, and next-door neighbors, Paula and Loren Hiatt, a caring church community, and numerous social groups. We greatly appreciated the services of Kathy Marshall, her health care provider and friend, as well as the care from Kittitas Valley Medical staff, Whole Health Pharmacy, and Meals on Wheels. Thank you all for your kindness and support. A Memorial Service will be held on March 8, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Lutheran Church in Ellensburg, Washington. To view the Memorial Service on March 8, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. go to First Lutheran Church of Ellensburg's website https://www.flc-eburg.org/ and click on the you tube link and select the date of the service to view the service online. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to PEO Chapter DN ( Mail to E. Wallace 631 Radiant View Dr. Ellensburg, WA 98926), or the FISH Community Food Bank (804 Elmview Rd. Ellensburg, WA), or a charity of your choice.