Esther Johnson

Spirited, creative, clever, and bold, Esther marched through life with her head held high and her heart seeking adventure. At age 17, she traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to attend Fairview Nursing School where she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Johnson, a student at Luther Seminary.

With three options for his first assignment as a pastor, Bob was smart enough to ask his new bride which call he should take — Esther chose Tanzania, East Africa. Residing in Moshi and Arusha, the young couple had three children and fell in love with the communities in which they lived.

Returning to the United States in 1958, they took a call to Grace Lutheran Church in the remote Mojave Desert community of Ridgecrest, California, where they had two more children. As their family grew, Esther returned to nursing, played the organ at church, joined the NAACP, sewed, managed a prolific reading list (her favorite pastime), and orchestrated all the family activities.

In 1977, the Johnson family moved to Fort Collins where Bob was installed as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. Esther worked at PVH, eventually transitioning to home care nursing, corralling her children at Christmas time to sing for patients unable to leave their homes. She and Bob continued to work for social justice, and whenever possible, Esther focused on supporting African outreach, particularly the Maasai Girls’ School in Monduli, Tanzania. Esther also completed a BA degree.

Beautiful, intelligent, stylish, and curious, Esther was able to discuss almost anything with anyone. She found beauty in the world around her, reflected in all that she did. She was a devoted friend, a gifted writer, a book club devotee and deeply loved her children and grandchildren.

Esther was predeceased by her husband Bob, her parents Victor and Wilma Gilbertson, and her siblings Ernie Gilbertson and Lois Olsen. She is survived by her children: Mark Johnson (Connie); Kari Chandler (Doug); Deborah Johnson; Maia Luvaas (Paul) and Heidi Carr (John); and 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Paul Gilbertson, her sister Ruth Matson and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Esther will be held on Saturday, January 27, 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church at 301 E. Stuart Street in Fort Collins. A reception will follow the service. Donations to honor Esther Johnson may be made to the Maasai Girls’ School through Operation Bootstrap Africa at bootstrapafrica.org, or to Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp at skyranchcolorado.org.