Marie H Johnson, age 90, born Fanny Marie Heiken at Broadview, on Nov. 7, 1927, passed away from natural causes on Oct. 24, 2018, in Spokane, WA. She leaves behind son Bill, his wife Lynn and grandchildren Hillary and Hayden, and son Bob and his wife Ruth. She is also survived by brothers Durl, Steve, Hobart, and Clyde and by sisters Cleo and Karen.
Marie grew up on a farm in Broadview and started to teach at age 17, then obtained a BA degree in Education from Eastern Montana College, and taught in Glasgow and Helena, where she met her husband, Robert “Gib” Johnson. They married in August 1956 in Billings. Following her husband as his career took them to Ainsworth, NE, where Bill was born, and then to Eureka, CA, where Bob was born. She finally settled in Great Falls, to raise her children, keep house, and stay actively involved with the First United Methodist Church.
When husband Gib had to transfer once again to finish his career in Billings, she decided to go back to Eastern Montana College and obtain a Masters Degree in Education. In the fall of 1977, Gib took early retirement and Marie went back to teaching, this time in Special Education in the Great Falls School District. After seven years Marie retired from teaching at the school district, and spent her time working as a volunteer docent at Paris Gibson Square, teaching and creating fiber arts, and traveling with Gib.
In June 2006, after Gib’s passing she moved to Spokane, WA, to be near son Bill and his family. She moved into Viking Plass Retirement Center. In her 12 years there she made many new friends and was active on the board. She joined the Audubon Park Methodist Church and was active in the women’s group and headed up the annual church bazaar for several years.
A graveside service will be held for her in Ballantine, in the spring of 2019.