Raisa Vasileneva Johanson
August 29, 1931 - April 8, 2009
Obituary
Raisa Vasileneva JOHANSON Born Raisa Vasileneva Bellikova Aug 29, 1931 in Aomori, Japan to Mr. and Mrs. Vasili Bellikoff, stateless Russians. She attended Joseph College and was proficient in French, Russian, Japanese and English languages. It was a close knit family with three daughters and two sons. Sister Elizabeth married an American and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, Brother George moved to Australia, Brother Alex remains in Japan and Sister Helen died in Japan during WWII. Raisa immigrated to the United States in 1951 as a passenger on a cargo ship. She was sponsored by Col. Gibson, a neighbor in Japan. She had previously worked with the American military in Japan and received many letters of commendations for typing and stenography. She went to work in the office of Potlatch Forest and soon became secretary of the Vice President. While residing in Lewiston, Idaho, she met Warren Johanson, a student at the University of Idaho and on August 29, 1954 they married. After Warren’s graduation they moved to Fortuna, California where he taught for four years, then to Sacramento for two more years of teaching. They then moved to Seattle, Washington where Warren went to work for The Boeing Co. In the need to fill out a household of furniture, Raisa grew a passion for going to garage sales and auctions. She soon later opened her own antique shop and maintained the business for over thirty years relying on word of mouth advertising. She had an eye for finding quality one-of-a-kind pieces. Raisa loved America, Americans and the soldiers that saved her life in Japan during WWII. Even in recent years when her hair was grey she wore the largest most beautiful American flag pin to be found and was often stopped by strangers who would express their love for the pin. She was very close to and deeply loved by her family; husband Warren, daughter Patricia and Lydia and son Alex. She will always be with us and in our loving thoughts every day. Services will be held Thursday 2:00pm at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, 1714 13th Ave Seattle. Please share your remembrances and sign our guestbook at: www.BonneyWatson.com.