Elizabeth (Betty) Rae Johnson passed away peacefully on October 5, 2017, at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL. Death came as a result of an unexpected cardiac arrest suffered five days earlier.

Betty was born in Oakland, CA, on November 3, 1942. Her father, Wallace, was a minister and her mother, Rachel, was a homemaker. Her four grandparents, Elof and Jennie Johnson and August and Hannah Oslund, emigrated from Sweden to the United States in the late 19th century.

Betty is survived by her three brothers and their spouses, David and Marianne (Hess) Johnson of Mendota Heights, MN, Paul and Pat (Joslyn) Johnson, of Decorah, IA, and Tom and Ginger (Van Der Molen) Johnson of West Chicago, IL; her nine nieces and nephews and their spouses, Charlotte Wilson of Palo Alto, CA, Brad (Miranda) Johnson of Plymouth, MN, Amy (Scott) Fisher of Eagan, MN, Eric Johnson (Brenda Horrigan) of Sydney, Australia, Andy (Emily) Johnson of Decorah, IA, Annika Nordquist of Gothenburg, Sweden, Soren (Ever) Johnson of Leesburg, VA, Derek Johnson (Carolyn Hutchinson) of Lake Forest, IL, and Kirk (Marie-Josée Cantin) Johnson of Los Angeles, CA; and her twenty-three great-nieces and nephews.

Betty lived a rich life. She grew up in California, South Dakota, and Illinois. She graduated from Oak Lawn Community High School (IL) in 1960 and Wheaton College (IL) in 1964. A career teacher, she taught English and Literature in high schools in Seattle, WA, and Elgin, IL, before her longest tenure at Lake Park High School in Roselle, IL. She was an outstanding teacher, enlightening and encouraging hundreds of teenagers over her years in education.

In her retirement, she was a docent at the Brookfield Zoo and the Morton Arboretum and also volunteered for DuPage County’s legal services for handicapped and elderly persons.

Betty loved literature, art, theater, cinema, architecture, and even sometimes the Chicago Bears and Cubs. Her favorite music included old hymns and gospel songs, jazz, and classical. She was a prolific reader and was known by all her family members for her questions relating to their readings, their favorite movies, and their cultural interests.

Betty had reverence for the natural world and was an avid birder. Cranes were her very favorite. She enjoyed traveling worldwide, from Antarctic to Iceland, China to South Africa, and many places in between.

Betty was a humble person, and never boastful. She disparaged no one, making all feel honored in her presence. She cared, loved, and respected all of us and the world we live in. She lived a beautiful life of faith and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

https://www.hultgrenfh.com/obituary/elizabeth-betty-johnson