Elizabeth Ann Johnson

Bette Johnson, age 90, died peacefully in the company of her husband Bernie, and sons Peter and David, on October 10, 2024, in St. Luke’s Hospice. Bette was born in Duluth on August 11, 1934 to Gertrude and Elwood Ericson.

Bette grew up in Duluth, the oldest in a family of six children. She met Bernie, her husband of 71 years, on a youth group outing on the North Shore. Together they raised their nine children in Woodland, filling their lives with love and countless family adventures. They retired to Arizona, a place Bette always loved, in 1995. After retirement they continued to spend summers at their cabin in Gordon, Wisconsin where Bette grew a treasured network of Forest Point golf friends and “Lake Family.”

Not one for idleness, Bette was always on the move. Whether handling snakes, spiders and all-things crawly as a Phoenix Zoo volunteer, cleaning her beloved cabin beach, or taking in any kind of adventure – her favorite was floating the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in a wooden dory for 21 days with Bernie – she lived life to the fullest.

Bette loved her family dearly and her passing leaves an irreplaceable void. Bette is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Bernie; and children, Cheryl (Don) Breiland, Roger (Diane) Johnson, Chris Johnson, David (Peggy) Johnson, Amy (Richard Smith) Johnson, Bill (Charlene) Johnson, Peter (Marlene Meyer) Johnson and Sara (Ronnie Engle) Johnson; 15 grandchildren, Liz, Meagan , Katie, Jacob, Jenna, Christina, Riley, Emilie, Jesi, Anya, Clayton, Jeremiah, Dakota, Dan and Samantha, and 17 great-grandchildren, Addy, Benny, Clara, Eloise, Henry, Sawyer, Reese, Jaxson, Rosie, Inyo, Hendrix, Dax, Xanen, Bailey, Serena, Gunther and Berrick. Bette is also survived by her siblings, John (Linda) Ericson, Claudia Hartman, Judy (Ron) Stingle, Bill (Miho) Ericson, Cathy (Wayne) Bass and special sister-in-law, Vera Vandendries. Bette is preceded in death by son Douglas Johnson; parents, Gertrude and Elwood Ericson and mother- and father-in-law, Leona and Dolphe Johnson.

Gatherings to celebrate a beautiful life will be held in Arizona this winter and in Wisconsin in the summer of 2025. 

The family would like to thank Dr. Krog-Breeuwer, Dr. Kleinschmidt, Dr. Dahlen and St. Luke’s ICU, 4th West and Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care of Bette.