Signe Tollefson Johnson

Signe Tollefson Johnson Signe Tollefson Johnson passed away peacefully with her son, Dougie, at her side on April 27,2012 at RooLan Health Care Center, Lacey, Washington where she received loving care for severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. She was also assisted by caring personnel of Assured Hospice. She is survived by her son, Douglas Johnson (retired OHS teacher and banker at Washington Mutual Bank); her brother, Harold Haaken Tollefson of Goleta, California; and several nieces and nephews scattered from shore to shore as noted below. Signe was born on February 14, 1917 on her parents’ (Hans and Marget Tollefson) homestead north of Rudyard, Montana. Her parents immigrated from Telemarken, Norway. Signe rode horses or horse-drawn sleigh in winter to the nearest one-room school house. For high school, she batched with girl friends in a hotel in Rudyard where she was known for her overall athletic abilities—basketball especially; her team won a district championship. Signe married Oscar T. Johnson in 1938 and settled on the Albert and Inga Johnson farm in Goldstone, Montana. She worked as a housewife, farmer, and most of all, a loving, fiercely protective mother of Douglas Leland, born in 1939, and Darryl Keith, born in 1946. They bought a ½ section near Goldstone Elementary School so the boys would be close to school. She was very active at Goldstone Lutheran Church in Ladies’ Aid, teaching Sunday school and bible school. She also was active in 4-H and Farmer’s Union along with her boys. She grew a monster garden and canned the vegetables; raised hens for eggs and made “the best fried chicken ever,” according to many guests; milked the cows; slopped the pigs; shocked the oats; and shoveled the harvest grain. She loved flowers and created an oasis, causing some to extend their drive to pass by the Johnson home. Signe was divorced in 1970 and the Johnson farm was sold. She moved to Great Falls, earned a certificate from Great Falls Commercial College, and worked as a bookkeeper, secretary, and a clothing store sales associate—her favorite job since she loved clothes and would never leave the house without being perfectly put together. She was active in the Sons of Norway and a member of Faith Lutheran Church. She retired in 1982 and enjoyed dancing, day trips, bowling, walking, handicrafts, and reading. Signe moved to Olympia, Washington in 2007 to live with her son, Douglas, after the health diagnosis. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Darryl, at age 12; her parents; two sisters, Valborg Zentzis and Ingaborg Miller; a brother, Alfred Tollefson; and a nephew, Merlyn Miller. Memorial Services will be held in Olympia, Washington on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1601 North Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Graveside services will be held in Harve, Montana on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Highline Cemetery, 400 W 9th Street, Hill County Public Cemetery District, Havre, Montana 59501. Interment will be at Highline Cemetery next to her son, Darryl, and her parents. She is survived by several first, second and third generation nieces and nephews: --Ardyce Miller Endresen; Arica Endresen Mathers, husband Brandon, son Micah; Carlene Endresen. --Rodney Miller, wife Joanie, son Kendall. --Meryln Miller’s son Nicholas Miller; daughter Dr. Shelby Miller Haugen, husband Scott, daughter Maya Jane, twins Lene and Nora. --Cheryl Zentzis Causey; Stephanie Causey; Christina Causey Quinteros, husband Carlos, sons Michael and Samuel. --Roger Zentzis, wife Merlene. --Carolyn Tollefson Frederickson, husband Chris; Cheri Frederickson; Shawn Frederickson, wife Sarah, daughter Abigale. --Alfred Tollefson, Jr; Cory Tollefson, son Colton, daughter Carly. --Calvin Tollefson; Lacey Tollefson; Taylor Tollefson. --Margaret Tollefson; Dr. Harold Tollefson, Jr. --Beverly Irish Anderson; Dar Anderson, daughter Kaila, son Dalton; Dwayne Anderson, wife Janet, son Dallas, daughter Claudia; Dean Anderson, wife Michelle, daughter Danielle. --Claudia Irish Curd; Tiffany Curd; Chad Curd, wife Vanessa. Extended family: Kaleel Salahudeen, wife Sajeetha, daughter Hisma, sons Hisham and Hilal. Please leave memories of Signe or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.