Wilma L. ""Billie Johnson

Wilma L. “Billie” Johnson, 91, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2017 at the Morrill County Community Hospital. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 1st at the First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport. Lunch and a time of fellowship and sharing will follow at the church.

Billie was born June 2, 1925 in Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester, New York to Arthur and Florence Schnarr Lauterbach. She graduated from Irondequoit High School in 1943 and earned a full ride scholarship to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where she majored in home economics and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

While at Cornell, she met her future husband, Arthur Charles (Art) Johnson, who was in the U. S. Navy in the Officer’s Training program. They were married in Rochester on December 24, 1944 and celebrated 66 years of marriage before Art’s death in 2011.

After Art’s discharge from the Navy, they made their home in Bridgeport, Art’s hometown. Raising four children, tending to business responsibilities, volunteering in the community and participating in church activities filled their lives.

While Billie and Art’s children were in their younger years, Billie served as a Cub Scout Den mother, as a Campfire Girls leader and as a member of the PTA. She served on the Bridgeport Public Library board and was very involved in obtaining its modern library building and equipment. She served a term on the board of Educational Service Unit #12, and later served on the Bridgeport Centennial Committee and the Panhandle Tourism Board.

Billie was perhaps proudest of her service as a Water Safety Instructor, teaching swimming and lifesaving classes and directing the Red Cross swimming program for most of twenty years in the community. Those who grew up in Bridgeport and the surrounding area in the 50’s or 60’s probably learned to swim because of Billie Johnson.

Billie was a 70-year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport, and served in many capacities including Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Pastor Nominating Committee, Elder, Clerk of Session, and many responsibilities at the Presbytery level. In 1981, she was a delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly. For more than 60 years, Billie was a member of Chapter DP of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She treasured her Chapter and served in numerous leadership roles, including as president.

One of Billie and Art’s interests for many years was membership in the Oregon-California Trails Association. They attended yearly conventions and visited points of interest along the trails from Nebraska to Oregon and California.

Billie’s life was filled with many interests, which included reading, travel, playing cards and especially family gatherings with games and friendly competition. Billie was an avid Husker fan, and even in her late 80’s she traveled to both football and volleyball contests in Lincoln. Though she rooted for the football teams all through the years, her true love had come to be the Cornhusker volleyball teams.

Although Billie grew up in the state of New York, through raising her family in the Panhandle and serving the community of Bridgeport, she grew to become a proud Nebraskan.

Billie is survived by the following: children James (Debby) Johnson of Casper, WY; Nancy Shaw (Gene Gatti) of Alliance, NE; Richard (Linda) Johnson of Hastings, NE; Thomas Johnson of Cheyenne, WY; grandchildren Kate Johnson, Susan Daddario, Beau Johnson, Robin Vanatta, Jennifer Shaw; step-grandchildren A. J. Ellerbee, David Ellerbee, Kevin Ellerbee; seven great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren, and one special niece Donna (Paul) Perry of Ontario, New York.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Art, her brother Arthur Henry Lauterbach, Jr., her sister Joan Lauterbach, and a great grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Bridgeport Public Library or the First Presbyterian Church. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.bridgeportmemorialchapel.com. Bridgeport Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.