Betty Lou Borg Johnson

Betty Lou Borg Johnson, a resident of Oakland, California, passed away peacefully at home on January 14, 2016. Words fail to describe the beautiful soul that Betty is and was here on earth. She touched others by her example of goodness, her enduring faith and hope throughout all circumstances, including her long struggle with Parkinsons disease. Betty was born in Richfield, Utah on January 24, 1937. She grew up in Sacramento. She played the flute in the school marching band, served as editor of the school newspaper, and enjoyed Shakespeare. She attended the University of California at Berkeley on scholarship where she studied French and English. She received her BA, and went to Lausanne, Switzerland on a Rotary Fellowship. When she returned from Switzerland in 1961 she married her sweetheart Richard Johnson whom she had met at Cal. She began her professional career teaching French and English at Miramonte High School in Orinda and later married Richard Johnson in 1961. She taught English as a second language in the Adult Education program in Oakland Public Schools for 35 years while raising her four children. Later she received a Masters Degree in reading from Holy Names College in 1976 and taught children with learning disabilities at Raskob Institute for 27 years. Her hobbies included reading good books, crossword puzzles, writing poetry and attending auctions for antique furniture. She was a devout member of her faith and donated countless hours of service to church programs. Her example of love, faith and devotion shined for all who knew her. In 2000, Betty was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and although her mobility was reduced, Betty fought the disease valiantly and lived her life to the fullest, traveling to visit grandkids and celebrate their accomplishments whenever possible. Betty was predeceased by her daughter, Josie, in 2004, her husband, Richard, in 2010, and her grandson, Logan, in 2015. She is survived by three of her four children, Ken, Julie, and Justin, and ten grandchildren. Betty was our "anchor" a source of abundant love and support for her children and grandchildren. She was smart and poetic, warm and generous, full of inner strength and spirit. Her smile has always lit up any room she entered. She will be missed greatly. Funeral services will be held Saturday Jan 21, 2017 at 4 pm at the Oakland Interstake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 4770 Lincoln Blvd, Oakland, CA. Visitation one hour prior to services, 3 pm at the church. Visitation Saturday, January 21, 2017 03:00 pm-03:50 pm Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4780 Lincoln Ave. Oakland CA 94602 Funeral Service Saturday, January 21, 2017 04:00 pm Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4780 Lincoln Ave. Oakland CA 94602 Committal Sunday, January 22, 2017 10:15 am Mountain View Cemetery 5000 Piedmont Ave. Oakland CA 94611