In 1987, a first grader walked a mile through a Wyoming blizzard on a day when school was cancelled to spend time with his teacher. He said his life in Mrs. Johnson’s class was preferable to his life at home.
Such was the care and attention that Harriet Johnson showed everyone in her life.
Harriet Westenskow Johnson passed away on February 24, 2020, in Brigham City, Utah, from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 78. She was born in Delta, Utah, on March 7, 1941, to parents who were teachers.
Teaching became her own vocation after her graduation from Utah State University in 1971, where she was a prominent student leader and beauty queen.
As a child in Brigham City, Harriet could be found helping with the family chickens, packing fruit, or enjoying time with her four sisters, Ann, Carol, Janet and Jean.
The friendliness of Brigham was reflected in Harriet’s nature. Everyone, from a lonely school janitor to the nearly 1,000 grade-school students she nurtured over 33 years – including in Peru, to the caring staff at the Gables memory care facility where she spent her final months were buoyed by Harriet’s pleasant smile and personal interest.
Harriet married Wally Johnson in 1962 and spent the next 57 years taming, training and refining the Rock Springs native. They shared a wealth of experiences together.
Life took Harriet to many parts of the world, including Peru, Texas and Wyoming. But regardless of where she lived, what mattered was how she lived. She dedicated her life to others, especially her children, Penny and Craig.
A fun and loving mother, she kept them both entertained and spiritually grounded. As a productive member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she showed a lifelong commitment to her Savior and his gospel.
A talented woman, Harriet zealously pursued several hobbies. She produced beautiful ceramics, intricate needlepoint, beaded jewelry and decorative sweatshirts. She also sang in several performing choirs. Her crowning project was a multi-volume set of family scrapbooks.
“By seeing the old photos,” she explained, “they’ll know how important they were to me.”
In short, Harriet was not only an example of how to live, but her courage and warmth after her diagnosis taught us how to be gracious at the end.
With her passing, her influence on her family will not be diminished. It will only increase.
Harriet was preceded in death by her parents, Owen and Helen Westenskow.
She is survived by her husband; Wally J. Johnson of Rock Springs Wyo., daughter and son-in-law; Penny and Jeff Nevins of Tulsa, Okla., son and daughter-in-law; Craig and Carol Johnson of Los Altos, Calif., sisters; Ann Chadwick of Tempe, Ariz., Carol Johnston of Brigham City, Utah, Janet Jones of Plain City, Utah, and Jean Chesley of Plain City, Utah, and six grandchildren; Kimberly Johnson Pratt (and Garth), Tyler Nevins, Michael Johnson, Tiffany Johnson, Rachel Nevins Halversen (and Tanner), and Brandon Johnson.
A viewing will take place between 11:30 am-12:40 pm on Saturday, February 29, 2020, with the funeral services to follow at 1 pm at Myers Mortuary, 205 South 100 East, in Brigham City, Utah.
The family suggests making a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation https://www.cff.org/ in lieu of flowers.
Interment will be in the Brigham City Cemetery.
A Celebration of Life for Harriet will be shared on Saturday, March 7, at 5 p.m. at the Sante Fe Southwest Grill in Rock Springs.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com.
