Olga Midge "Midge" Johnson

Olga Marlene Gibbs “Midge” Johnson was born on her mother’s birthday October 28, 1931 in Troy, Montana to Irene and Richard Gibbs. She passed on October 16, 2016 surrounded by family, just twelve days shy of her 85th birthday. She spent her early years in Troy and Libby Montana where her father was sheriff. She was small and petite so her dad called her “Midget” and that’s how she got the nickname “Midge“. Then she moved to Newport, Washington where she met and married Aaron Abbott in 1948 and graduated from Priest River High School in 1949 when her first daughter, Marlene Abbott, was born.

Midge married Harley “Bud” Johnson in December 1952 at the jail house in Missoula, Montana. His family thought Bud was a confirmed bachelor but Midge always enjoyed a challenge! In 1954 they had a daughter, Charlotte, moved to Spokane, WA and into the little house on East Central where she remained for the rest of her life. Midge worked alongside Bud as they built onto the house in three directions as the family grew.

Two more daughters; Donna and Janet were born in the early 60’s.

She was happiest being a full time mother and homemaker and could do it all; cooking, sewing, knitting, crochet, gardening, canning food and even brewed her own beer . After her children were grown she started working outside the home at retail stores and had jobs at Sears, Emporium and Wal-Mart. She became a young widow in 1983 and never remarried.

She was an member of the Eagles and Washington Old Time Fiddlers and was a “fiddle mom” to many fiddlers. Midge loved to fish, square dance, listen to country western music, dance, play games like “Skipbo” and “Yatzee” and worked on puzzles daily to keep her mind sharp. She enjoyed spending time with her family at the cabin on Diamond Lake and one of her favorite activities was meeting her friends at Moon’s every Friday afternoon for a “beverage” as she called it, which was BEER! She was a character with a lot of spunk and determination but very down to earth and easy to be around. She lived a very full life then passed peacefully in her sleep from complications of C.O.P.D.

Our loving mother and grandmother is survived by her only sister, Cecelia, Doezale in Libby, MT , her daughters: Marlene Abbott, Charlotte Reynoso, Donna Reuter and Janet Enos. Three grandsons: Glenn Johnson, Nathan and Cole Reynoso. Five great grandchildren: Justin Klaus, Whitney Johnson, Kanata, Bayleigh and Driven Reynoso. Two great great grandchildren: Keagan and Calibur.

Arrangements under the direction of Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home, Spokane, WA.