Mabel Eleanor Johnson

Mabel Eleanor (Evensen) Johnson was born on November 4th, 1914 on Staten Island, New York. Mabel was a first generation American, the daughter of Pedar Evensen and Hilma Pettersen, Norwegian immigrants who both bravely emigrated to the U.S. when they were teenagers.

Mabel was part of the close knit Norwegian community on Staten Island and attended the Norwegian Evangelical Free Church Mission (renamed Salem Church in 1935) from the time she was born until her move to Maryland with her husband in 1978.

Her father was a talented musician and could play the piano, mandolin, flute, and guitar. He also worked in home construction on Staten Island. In 1928 when Mabel was 13, her father passed away. Her mother began working as a domestic helper for other families to make ends meet, and she and her brothers also did their part to keep the family together. Leaving high school at age 17, Mabel began working as a secretary at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Manhattan, making $12 a week. Commuting from Staten Island to Manhattan was a challenge: it took 90 minutes each way to get to work – by bus, then ferry, then subway. While working at the Metropolitan, Mabel attended Bible College at night, and took advanced piano lessons as well.

In 1943, after the start of World War II, Mabel walked up Broadway in NYC, determined to enlist in the first recruitment office she found. It happened to be the Coast Guard, and shortly after, she entered the service as a SPAR. Mabel was one of the first women to enlist in the women's branch of the United States Coast Guard Reserve, which was established the previous year by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was a decision that she never regretted. After finishing boot camp and her storekeeper training in Florida, she was stationed in Cleveland in the payroll department.

Before joining up, Mabel had begun dating Ken Johnson, a nephew of her best friend, Evelyn Simonsen. Ken and Mabel’s families were very close, knowing each other from Salem Church. During the war, Ken had joined the Merchant Marines, and sailed the dangerous waters of the Atlantic as a radio operator. The two began corresponding regularly, and on Christmas in 1944, they became engaged. They married a few months later on March 10,1945. Mabel was allowed to transfer to New York City shortly after to be close to Ken, whose homeport was New York City. Both were honorably discharged in the spring of 1946 and they moved in with her in-laws on Staten Island before finding an apartment.

Soon after, they welcomed their first child, Kenneth Ralph (Kenny), followed by Elizabeth Gayle (Betty), and Gary David. When the children were older, Mabel went to work at Wagner College as a secretary in the education department. In 1978, Ken was transferred to Maryland with the Ford Motor Company and moved into a lovely home in Fallston where they loved to host family and friends. In 1991, Ken and Mabel moved to Overland Park, Kansas to be close to their daughter Betty and her family They lived there for several years, before moving in 2001 to a shared home with Betty and Alan in Olathe, Kansas. Their son Kenny passed away in 2000.

Ken passed away in 2008 after 63 wonderful years of marriage. Mabel continued to enjoy family and friends, reading, gardening, crocheting, coloring, and playing games with her grandkids (and great-grandkids!). In the early 2010s, she reconnected with the Coast Guard and was recognized many times for her service to the country over the last decade of her life.In 2014, she celebrated her 100th birthday, surrounded by family and friends from all over the country.

On December 20th, 2022, at the age of 108, Mabel Johnson passed away gently and peacefully in the presence of her loving family. The spiritual legacy that Mabel left her family is priceless. Every morning and every evening one would find her spending time in the Word, praying for her family and the missionaries she so faithfully supported. Mabel’s life verse was Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Mabel was preceded in death by her husband A. Kenneth Johnson, her son, Kenneth R. Johnson, brothers Arthur, Max, & Lester. Mabel is survived by her sister, Joni Odegaard; daughter, Elizabeth (Alan) Hansen; son, Gary (Bonnie) Johnson, and daughter-in-law, Karyl (Kenny). She is also survived by her grandchildren: Kimberly (Eric) Stemmer, Daniel (Emily) Hansen, Keith (Julie) Johnson, Kit (Paul) Bessenbacher, David (Birdie) Hansen, Jonathan (Sheroquai) Hansen, Peter Johnson, Andrew Johnson, and Jacob (Taylor) Johnson, as well as her 5 great-grandchildren: Megan Stemmer, Nathan Johnson, Greta Hansen, Audrey Hansen, and Errol Hansen. She is also survived by her cousin Mary Ann Stiansen and many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

Visitation services will be held December 30th at the McGilley and Frye Funeral Home 105 East Loula Street Olathe, Kansas from 10:00 AM until noon, Interment at 1:30 p.m. with full Military Honors in Leavenworth National Cemetery 150 Muncie Rd Leavenworth, Kansas 66036.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Mill Creek Community Church 7825 Gleason Rd Shawnee, Kansas.

Donations in Mabel’s memory may be made to Mill Creek Community Church or Patriot Features (www.patriotfeatures.org)

Condolences may be offered at www.McGilley-Frye.com.