Luster Elisabeth Johnson

Descended from the pioneers who walked the Oregon trail to homestead in what became Washington State, Luster Johnson was a proud fourth-generation Seattleite. She liked to say she kept their pioneer grit.

Luster was born at Providence Hospital weighing less than three pounds. Her lungs never quite developed properly and she suffered from asthma her whole life. The ailment never slowed her down. To the contrary, she was a natural athlete and became a lifelong sporting enthusiast. At Ballard High School, she excelled at basketball and went on after graduation to play women’s league softball and bowling. Later she discovered her love of golf. She started the women’s golf league at Foster Golf Links and it was her home course for over 50 years, where she won the Foster Women’s League championship nine times. Her accomplishments included hitting a hole-in-one at Alderbrook Golf Club and many competition trophies.

Flashy was never her style, but dependable certainly was. In her thirty-five-year career with the Boeing Airplane Company, she only ever took twelve sick days. After her retirement, Luster became a snow-bird, following the sun to Arizona every winter so she could play golf year-round. She was there when she suddenly fell ill. Before the doctors could diagnose her, cancer had gained the upper hand.

Luster was treasured by her family and her many life-long friends. She was gentle and kind by nature, known for her sweet dry sense of humor and always thinking of others. She will be dearly missed. She was predeceased by her parents, Byron Frank Johnson Senior and Mary Magdalene León Frances Elizabeth LeDuc, siblings Byron Frank Johnson Junior, Lynne Elfendahl, Reed Frances Johnson and her steadfast golf partner, Marge Bullard. She is survived by her two nephews; Dr. Mike Elfendahl of Renton, Colonel Mark B. Elfendahl, USA (Ret.) (Leanne) of Virginia, and her niece, Liz Blaszczak (Mike) of Mercer Island as well as two great-nieces Lisa Elfendahl and Kate Elfendahl of Virginia.

A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Tues, 28 May 2024 at 2:00pm at Foster Golf Links, Tukwila. Private interment at the family burial plot, Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle.”