Elsie Johnson

Elsie Ann Johnson, age 89, of Boulder City, passed away at her home on July 4, 2020 surrounded by her family.

She was born February 25, 1931 in St. Paul, Minnesota and was the loving daughter of James and Elsie Simon. She attended a small rural school (four classrooms for grades one through eight) followed by city high school, then on to the University of Minnesota graduating in 1953 majoring in Elementary Education. Realizing there was more to life than swatting mosquitoes and skidding on ice, two Chi Omega Sorority sisters and Elsie packed their cars and headed west to fulfill contracts with the San Diego Unified School District. Their plans for teaching changed as all three met and married within the first year of arriving in San Diego. Rex, Elsie’s future husband, was in the Navy stationed in San Diego when they met on a blind date. Elsie married the love of her life that same year and when Rex’s tour of duty was over in 1955 they moved to Glendale, California where their first child was born followed by a second child in 1958.

Elsie taught 3rd grade for 23 years at two elementary schools in La Crescenta, California where they made their home. Classified as a Master Teacher Elsie had a special gift of understanding children’s needs, teaching to those needs and instilling in the young students a sense of worth and compassion. She retired in 1989 and they moved to Boulder City where they both enjoyed volunteering, out-of-the country vacations, traveling in their RV, especially along the Oregon coast, as well as playing cards, taking long walks, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

Elsie made it her life’s work to take care of her family, keeping them secure and happy. There was not much sitting around on weekends where family activities included: playing in the backyard swimming pool, sailing in the Pacific Ocean, motorcycle dirt bike riding (of which Elsie was happy to sit in a chair and read a book), boating on Lake Mead and Lake Powell, and camping. She was a wonderful cook and was always trying something new; she was an avid quilter and used much of her spare time quilting and enjoyed sharing her work and knowledge with other quilters, and was involved with various organizations, such as PEO. Elsie was known by all as a truly good and nice woman.

To know Elsie was to know someone with a witty sense of humor. Sometimes that humor would take people by surprise, it was always well meaning, even if it was hard to tell, although the twinkle in her eye usually gave it away.

She is survived by a son R.J. and his wife Terri; daughter Tracey and her husband Ken; and grandchildren Colin and wife Kat and Kathy Lee and husband Matt. The family will be holding private services at the Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations may be made to Lend-a-Hand of Boulder City and Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. Family and friends can sign an online memorial guestbook at www.bouldercityfamilymortuary.com