LaVeda A. Johnson
August 5, 1917 - June 12, 2011
Obituary
LaVeda Johnson died on June 12, 2011 at Tacoma General Hospital. The cause of death was a brain hemorrhage; she was 93 years old.
LaVeda was born to Harley and Amy Morgan Allen on August 5, 1917 in Barnesville, Minnesota. She was the oldest of nine children. LaVeda graduated from Barnesville High School in 1935. She continued her education by training to be a beautician in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1938 in Moorhead, Minnesota, LaVeda married Paul Johnson. They initially lived in Fargo, North Dakota, and Fergus Falls, Minnesota. When Paul entered the Army, they moved to Highland Falls, New York, and then to Seattle, Washington, where they spent the rest of their lives. LaVeda worked for Sears as an office manager until 1975.
LaVeda was an avid gardener who loved plants. She knew the proper name for everything in her yard, enjoyed keeping the shrubs and flower beds beautiful, and created lovely floral arrangements. She was artistic in other ways. LaVeda and Paul enjoyed a lapidary hobby—searching for unusual rocks, attending gem and mineral shows, polishing stones, and making wonderful creations. Many family members have beautiful pictures, jewelry, and polished rocks given to them by LaVeda and Paul.
LaVeda was a long-time member of Lakeridge Lutheran Church. Until her health began to decline in 2010, she was active in the church. Her circle created quilts and baby care kits for Lutheran World Relief, bringing LaVeda much joy. She was generous with her compliments and appreciative of anything people did for her. She was grateful for the excellent and loving care she received from Linda and Doug, as well as Linda’s daughter Lori and granddaughter Stephanie, in the last five months of her life.
LaVeda enjoyed a good laugh. The last time she saw her grandson Scott, she told about the time Scott, Joey and their dog Riley came to visit her at Merrill Gardens. After Scott went into another room and closed the door, Riley searched all over for him. When Riley found the room Scott was in, he waited patiently at the door and would not move until Scott came out. LaVeda thought Riley’s devotion was adorable, and she and Scott laughed together about that memory.
LaVeda is survived by her son, Douglas Linda of Milton, Washington, grandchildren Scott Kari of Tenino, Washington, and Susan Stumph of Springfield, Oregon, and great-grandchildren Mekila and Joey. LaVeda is also survived by her siblings Elayne Severson Clifford of White Lake, South Dakota, Monafay Anderson of Barnesville, Minnesota , Bernard Allen of Walnut Grove, California, Norma Asplund J. Kenneth of St. Augustine, Florida, Janice Hastie of Olympia, Washington, Jack AllenPat of Phoenix, Arizona and Sharon Bjerken of Moorhead, Minnesota. In addition, LaVeda is survived by cousins LoRaine Setterberg Don of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Donna McKay of Grand Junction, Colorado, as well as many nieces and nephews.
LaVeda was preceded in death by her husband Paul, who died in 2002, and by an infant son, Theodore. Her sister, Amy Hildebrand, also preceded her in death.
A graveside service will be held on Wed., July 6th at 11:15 A.M. at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 Southeast 240th St., Kent, Washington. A memorial service will be held that same day at 1 p.m. at Lakeridge Lutheran Church, 7465 S. 112th, Seattle, WA 98178. Memorial donations can be made to Lakeridge Lutheran Church