Betty Eileen Johnson

Betty Eileen (Lewis) Johnson, 93, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2013.  Born in Detroit, MI, in 1920, Betty’s family moved to Longview, WA, in 1924, where she attended elementary school.  In 1934, the Lewis family relocated to Portland.  Betty graduated from Roosevelt High in 1938 and was admitted to the Emanuel School of Nursing that fall.  After graduating in 1941, Betty worked as a Labor & Delivery nurse at Emanuel Hospital from 1941 to 1943.  In April 1943, with America at war, Betty joined the Army Nurse Corps.  Betty served in hospitals in New Guinea as well as military hospitals in Spokane and San Francisco.  In the spring of 1945, the newly-formed United Nations organized a convention of delegates from the 50 Allied nations.  The United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO) took place in San Francisco from April 25 to June 26, 1945.  Betty was one of two nurses selected to attend the conference to staff first-aid stations.  After receiving her military discharge in 1946, Betty worked as a nurse in private practice for three years.  In 1949, Betty met and married another WWII veteran, Herman “Ed” Johnson.  In 1950, daughter, Katherine Marie, was born; son, Stephen Edwin, followed in 1952.  After many years as a stay-at-home mom, Betty rejoined the Emanuel Hospital Labor & Delivery staff for a second stint from 1966-1984.  Ed passed away in 1983.  Betty was active in Augustana Lutheran Church for 80 years, serving in numerous leadership positions. She is survived by children, Katherine Jones and Stephen (Karen) Johnson, along with three grandchildren, Erik (Kristen) Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, and Scott Jones.  A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, December 21st at 11:00am at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 N.E. 14th Avenue, Portland.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Augustana Lutheran Church.