Joan Arlene Bjorgen Johnson

1938 - 2024

Stanwood - Our beautiful matriarch, Joan Arlene Bjorgen Johnson passed away peacefully on July 15, 2024.

Joan was born February 18th, 1938 in Everett WA to parents Andreas and Selma Bjorgen. She was the baby (youngest) of her proud Norwegian immigrant parents, joining sisters Doris and Shirley and brother Ivan.

She grew up in Conway Washington and always had delightful stories of close-knit community relationships with her Conway neighbors and friends. She and her sister Shirley were close in age and because they both played violin, became known as the Bjorgen Sisters as they shared their talents playing gigs around the community.

Joan was a lifelong member of Fir-Conway Lutheran Church and was both baptized and confirmed there. She enjoyed participating in the FCLC choir of which she was a member for years.

Joan attended Conway Grade School, Mount Vernon High School with the class of 1956 and rounded out her education by attending Skagit Valley College. Joan and her sister Shirley moved with their parents to Annette Island Alaska in 1958 as their father pursued a job with the FAA. Shirley and Joan obtained employment working at a fish cannery at George Inlet which resulted in many good stories of long, laborious workdays with great camaraderie and life lessons learned along the way.

Joan eventually landed a job as a gate agent for Pan American Airlines on Annette. She met a handsome young Coast Guardsman named Peter Johnson with whom she dated and fell in love. He was reassigned to a new duty base and moved away. When he realized he didn't want to live without her, he sent her an engagement ring and proposal through the mail.

Joan joined Peter in Beloit , Wisconsin (Peter's hometown) and on November 22, 1962, they were united in marriage by Peter's father who was a Congregational Church minister. Peter, an astute young pilot, flew his bride off on their honeymoon in his two-seater Luscombe airplane.

When Peter finished his Coat Guard commitment, he and Joan eventually moved to Ketchikan Alaska. Peter worked for Webber Air as a pilot while he and Joan worked through the arduous process of obtaining an air-taxi certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board. They made their dream come true in 1964 when they moved back to Annette Island, received the air-taxi certificate and Tamgass Aviation was established. Tamgass Aviation later became known as Alaska Southcoast Airways. Joan also moonlighted as an employee for Western Airlines followed by Alaska Airlines, depending on which carrier was operating on the island.

Son Thor, daughter Cindy followed by son Bill were all born to Peter and Joan during their Alaska years. All three kids were schooled in aviation and albeit with a bit of motherly trepidation, Joan stood faithfully by (at another location or with eyes closed) as her then teenage children successfully took solo flights under the instruction of their dad.

In 1976 Peter and Joan moved out of Alaska and established their home back in Joan's childhood town of Conway. Joan went to work for Doug Fox Travel which offered opportunities for Joan to travel on "familiarization" tours to destinations all over the world.

Joan worked her final employment years as an executive secretary at Paccar Technical Center in Skagit Valley WA. She made many great friendships that continued even after her retirement.

Joan was preceded in death by many beloved family members including her precious son William (Bill) Martin Johnson by who's side, she will be interred.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Joan's niece Jennifer Horton Elkins who moved to Washington to care for her beloved Aunt Joan during her last years. Her humor and compassion in difficult days provided levity to us all. In addition, the thanks is extended to the dedicated caregivers from Where The Heart Is in Burlington WA. Anna Lisa, Jessica, Nonnie, Ashley- the whole crew, for you we grateful!

Joan is survived by her husband Peter Johnson, son Thor Johnson (Marcie), daughter Cindy Grewell (Mike), grandchildren Dylan Small (Natalie), Megan Cooper (Jesse), Rylee Small (Matt), Bill Johnson (Maryjane) and great-grandson Ashton Cooper. She is also survived by her sister Shirley Bjorgen Horton.

A public memorial service is scheduled for 2pm on Friday, August 2nd at Fir- Conway Lutheran Church.

Memorials are suggested to:

Fir-Conway Lutheran Church Memorial Fund

Hospice of the Northwest

And because she dearly loved her dogs Boofie, Cola, Sheba and Heidi-

Humane Society of Skagit County; or

Saving Pets One at a Time (SPOT)