Elsie Mae Johnson

Elsie Mae Johnson, 99, of Wenatchee, Washington passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Elsie was born in Dooly, Montana on July 12, 1926 to Walter and Ethel Nichols. At the age of three, the family moved to Gladmar, Saskatchewan, Canada where she attended grade school. Then she moved to Plentywood, Montana to go to high school and graduate in the class of 1944. In August of 1945, she married Adolph Johnson, formerly of Plentywood, in Bremerton, Washington where he worked in the ship yards. In 1946 they moved to the Coulee Dam area. A daughter, Jean, was born there. They followed the construction of the dams (she was called one of the dam women). In 1948, they moved to Oregon. In 1951, twins Jason and Jannell were born in Pendleton, Oregon. After several more moves in 1957they came to Wenatchee and bought a home and settled there. Elsie was active in the P.T. A. and Girl Scouts and was a Den Mother in Boy Scouts. She later went to work at the coffee bar and banquets at the Columbia and Cascadian Hotels. She was active in a group for the blind, the South Wenatchee Garden Club, Independent Order of Foresters, Sons of Norway, bowling leagues, later Wii Bowling, and she was an active pinochle player. She loved to travel and did that ten years, mostly tours. Elsie also volunteered at the Senior Center for twenty-two years and retired at the age of eighty-nine. She is survived by her daughter, Jannell (Richard) Weldon of Richland, Washington; daughter-in-law, Nancy West Johnson of Ellensburg, Washington; five grandsons, one granddaughter, twelve great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Ethel Nichols; son, Jason; daughter, Jean; two brothers, one sister; and her husband, Adolph Johnson. Elsie’s life will be celebrated at a later date at Colonia Vista in Wenatchee. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements by Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home.

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Elsie Mae Johnson

July 12, 1926 - January 18, 2026