Josephine Wilhelmine Johnson

Josephine was born February 26,1915 in a cabin in Amethyst, AB. She was the eldest of four children born to Sven & Hanna (Nyquist) Odland. In 1920, Hanna died and the four children went to live with their grandma Nyquist in Minnesota. In the late 1920's they returned to Alberta and were adopted by Sven's brother, Sam & his wife Minnie (Steen).

Josephine was predeceased by her sister Charlotte (2002) and brothers Harold (1995), Selmer (1940)

She is survived by sisters Ionne Skretting of Enchant, AB and Audrey Bigelow of Taber, AB.

Jo is also survived by sons Milton (Maxine) of Langley, Morris of Langley, Keith (Susan) of Saanich, Brian (Jennifer) of Fort Langley and daughter Joye Volker (Chris Whittaker) of Canberra, Australia.

Grandchildren - Dena Campos (David Harrison) of Chilliwack, Kimberly McGhee of Kamloops

Sam Volker of Canberra, Australia, Aaron Volker of London, England

Nicholas (Cory) Johnson - Victoria, Ben (Joanne) Johnson - Chilliwack, Nathan (Holly) Johnson - Saanich

Lars-Erick Johnson - Fort Langley, Brynje Johnson - Fort Langley, Karl Johnson - Fort Langley

Great Grandchildren - Nikolaus Schwarz - Kelowna, Katelin Siegrist (Matt Kohaniik) - Chilliwack

Great Great Granddaughter - Chloe Kohaniik - Chilliwack

Four Step-Granddaughters - Susan (Dan) Boone, Sharon (Larry) Garrison, Shirley (Roland) Irion, Shelley (Tom) Scott and numerous Step-Great Grandchildren and Step-Great Great Grandchildren.

Jo is also survived by a second family - brothers Willie and Sven Jr., and sisters Elaine, Emma and Irene in Alberta.

Josephine married William Johnson in September 1939. After the birth of Milton in Lethbridge, AB in September 1940 they moved to New Westminster in November 1940 to start the work of the New Westminster Evangelical Free Church. Right from the beginning Jo was active in Sunday School work, also starting a "Happy Hour Club" for children. Jo went on to teach Adult Sunday School classes. Daily Vacation Bible School, and help organize Sunday School picnics. All were successful due to the organization of Josephine. She also became the first president of the District Womens Missionary Society of the Evangelical Free Church.

Four more children were born while in New Westminster, Morris, Joye, Keith and Brian. In 1955 the family moved back to Enchant, AB where William pastored the Enchant EFC for the next few years. Once again Jo's work was assisting dad, and helping to raise five kids. After four years in Enchant, they moved to North Vancouver to take over the North Vancouver EFC.

While in North Vancouver, Jo went to UBC to get a teaching diploma. After receiving her teaching diploma, Jo taught for a period of time at York House School in Vancouver. In about 1970, Bill retired and they moved to Langley where they resided for a short while on Crush Cres. before moving into a duplex on Major St in Fort Langley. Bill passed away in July 1986. In 1992 Jo moved to Southwinds Estates in Walnut Grove where she resided until being admitted to Cedar Hill Extended Care in Langley in October 2011.

Arrangements under the direction of Henderson's Langley Funeral Home, Langley, BC.