Olga May Johnson-Christianson

Olga entered this world on March 20, 1927, the youngest of seven children born to Henry and Barbara Johnson. She was very proud of her Aleut, Russian and Norwegian heritage. Her mother’s illnesses and father’s frequent absences made it necessary for Olga and her brother to be placed in the Minfield Orphanage in Juneau where she remained until age twenty. She was the oldest girl among 52 orphans. Olga never knew her father and only met her mother twice. Before Minnie Field started the orphanage, while still working at the town jail, she asked Martha and Alois Ulrich to look after “little Olga” and her brother Harry. That created a very close and special bond with the Ulrichs. Their daughter Marianne and Olga always considered themselves sisters.

After leaving Minfield, Olga worked for the government hospital in Juneau. In 1950 Olga enrolled at Mt. Edgecombe School of Nursing where she received her LPN and worked in that profession for the next 25 years. While at Ballard Hospital in Seattle, she worked in Labor & Delivery where she was present at the births of her nieces and nephew.

Olga moved to North Bend, WA in 1963 when she married her first husband Ed. They were divorced after 13 years. In 1980 Olga married Clarence Christianson in Yakima, WA and remained married until Clarence’s passing 20 years later. After Clarence’s death, Olga moved in with Marianne in Everett, WA. The family was thrilled to have Auntie Olga close by again.

Olga was a very private person; she had conquered two bouts of cancer yet never spoke of it. However, if you mentioned anything about fishing, she would engage for hours about all her fishing expeditions. Olga could sit for hours in a boat on Lake Goodwin hoping to make a catch, and was successful on most days. She fished into her late eighties. Olga also loved crocheting, flower and vegetable gardening, berry picking, puzzles, all animals and, of course, ROOT BEER!!

Olga attended Central Lutheran Church in Everett and thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship as well as the uplifting messages from Pastor Jeffery Russell. She supported many missionaries and Jewish organizations; especially those in Israel. Animal rescue plus many poor and homeless children were also sponsored. This was where her heart was as she recalled her own experiences in the orphanage.

After a stroke in March of this year, Olga left us on June 5th. We are heartbroken about her passing yet rejoice knowing she is in Heaven where she longed to be. Olga is survived by her sister Marianne, nieces Tove’, Germaine and Renata, nephew John, and their families. Also by her sister-in-law Evelyn and numerous nieces and nephews in Alaska. She was preceded in death by her birth parents, all her siblings as well as her “chosen family” Alois and Martha Ulrich.