Bette June Johnson

Bette Johnson passed from this life peacefully at her home in College Station, Texas on March 6th, 2026. As she passed into eternity, her daughters, Patsy & Andrea, were holding her hands and her husband Don was receiving communion at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

The middle child of Irish Triplets, Bette was the fifth of eight children born to Canadian Immigrants Rita Helen Traynor and Jacob Joseph Probe. Bette and her siblings were first generation Americans who were all born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. The Probes were parishioners at St. Mary of Redford Catholic Church, and all the Probe children attended St. Mary of Redford Catholic School from first through twelfth grade.

Bette met Don Johnson when they were paired up as dance partners in their High School Operetta, Brigadoon. Soon afterwards, they started dating and were married January 25th, 1964. The newlyweds settled in Inkster, Michigan where they welcomed children Billy, Patsy, & Donna. While caring for her own three children and six foster children, Bette attended night school and earned her Bachelor's degree in Childhood Development from Madonna University in 1975.

Don's work brought the Johnson family to Texas in 1976. They settled in Nassau Bay; just blocks away from both Bette's older brother, Don Probe, and his family and from St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Over the next 42 years, Bette served in many capacities at St. Paul's including as a CCE teacher, a member of the Parish Council, a Eucharistic Minister, and part of the ACTS Retreat Leadership Team.

Her first two years in Texas, Bette taught preschool at Gloria Dei. Then, in 1978, Bette and Don were blessed with the couple's youngest daughter, Andrea. Following Andrea's birth, Bette ran a home daycare. The Johnson house was again brimming with children; some of the children that she watched during these years even became Bette's Godchildren. Never one to waste a minute, Bette enrolled in night school once more, this time at the University of Houston Clear Lake where she earned a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Development awarded in 1987.

Finally, Bette was ready to do the job she'd always wanted, and she became a first grade teacher at McWhirter Elementary. Bette loved teaching first grade and excelled at it. She was certified by Clear Creek ISD as one of their first Reading Recovery Teachers in 1994 and by the State of Texas as a Master Teacher in 2001. During her more than quarter of a century tenure at McWhirter Elementary, Bette secured sponsors for the school spirit shirts, ensuring that students no longer had to pay for them; recruited volunteers for the Helping One Student to Succeed program; started a program that allowed students to receive free vaccinations; and was the driving force to replace the old playground equipment, helping to secure a $311,000 grant that funded the development of Spark Park. According to her principal, Dr. Michael Marquez, "We can't" and "No" were responses Bette never accepted.

In 1980, Bette joined Don as a member of the Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department where she served as an EMT; for many years she also served as the NBVFD Medical Chief. In the 80's, Billy and Patsy also become volunteer firemen and EMTs, and the ambulance was a frequent sight in front of the Johnson home on Carriage Lane when the family was on call. After 23 years, Bette retired from the NBVFD in 2003. Additionally, Bette served on the St. John Hospital Ethics Committee for four years and was the head coordinator for the Gulf Coast Blood Drives for over a decade, personally donating over 10 gallons of blood in her lifetime.

Bette was elected to the Nassau Bay City Council in 2002; she served as a councilman until 2010, including as Mayor Pro Tem from 2008-2010. While councilman, Bette was Chair of the NASA Parkway Enhancement Committee; Chair of the Appropriations Committee; and as a member of the Urban Planning Advisory Committee, Bette was instrumental in the redesign and rebuilding of the business center in Nassau Bay.

Over the years, Bette earned many honors and recognitions, including being named a recipient of the prestigious Men & Women of Heart 2002; Space Center Rotary Teacher of the Year 2003; the Community Service Award from Eckerd Drugs; the Book of Golden Deeds Award by the Exchange Club-Bay Area/NASA; Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department "Rookie of the Year," "Administrator of the Year," & "Medic of the Year;" and The City of Nassau Bay proclaiming September 14th, 1999 as "Bette Johnson Day" and October 8th, 2018 as "Don & Bette Johnson Day."

Bette is preceded in death by her daughter Donna Johnson; parents, Rita & Jake Probe; siblings Don Probe, Joanne Sinkowski, Mary Jean Klebba, Nancy Lambert, and Alice Norman; nephews Brian Norman, Tim Sinkowski, Tom Sinkowski; niece Kathy Bloink; and son-in-law John B. Van Huyck.

Bette is survived by her husband of 62 years, Don Johnson; son Bill Johnson, daughter-in-law Bridget Long, grandchildren Mark Johnson & Mark's wife Taylor, Alex Colón & Alex's husband Malcom; daughter Patsy Johnson and grandsons Carl Van Huyck, Don Van Huyck, & Bennett Van Huyck; daughter Andrea Brown, son-in-law Aaron Brown, granddaughters Avery Brown & Sophia Brown; siblings John Probe and Rita Jackson; nieces and nephews Bob Probe, John Probe, Jim Probe, Kris Hurst, Chip Probe, John Sinkowski, Suzi Grant, Gerard Klebba, Sue Beth Balash, Mary Rezny, Ann Martin, Joan Lambert, Sue Janos, Bill Lambert, Jack Lambert, Anthony Norman, Christina Lynch, Joseph Probe, Dana Lyke, Jacob Probe, Joshua Probe, Chris Jackson, Veronica Slayton, Michael Johnson, Brian Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Adam Johnson, Pam Shirk, and Michael Burns; and honorary niece and nephews Kevin Hoerle, Jeff Hoerle, Christine Stawowczyk, and Eric Hoerle.

Services will be held on April 18th, 2026 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 18223 Point Lookout Drive, Nassau Bay, Texas. There will be a Rosary at 10:30am, a Funeral Mass at 11:00am, and a Bereavement Lunch will follow the Mass in the church's social hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in Bette's memory to St. Jude Hospital or to your favorite charity.