Helen Eleanor Sande Johnston

1918-2013

After a long life filled with faith, joy and the love of her family, Helen Eleanor Sande Johnston passed away at age 94, on January 27, 2013. She battled cancer with poise and dignity. She was born June 4, 1918 into a large Norwegian farm family in Conway, Washington. Her parents, John and Beate Sande, had 15 children. Helen loved telling the story of being the second girl born after ten boys. Helen grew up on the Sande dairy farm on the Pioneer Highway in Stanwood, Washington and graduated from Stanwood High School in 1937. She was married to her beloved husband, Jack Johnston of Arlington, for 61 years and worked with him in the family business, Johnston Petroleum, which they owned together for 48 years.

After her first child was born in 1940, Helen became a homemaker. She loved her family dearly and worked very hard to give them a happy, comfortable home life. She enjoyed playing bridge, flower arranging, gardening, knitting, sewing and baking. She was devoted to her Lutheran faith and was active in the church, rarely missing Sunday morning services. Helen was very sociable and everyone was welcome to drop by her home at any time. They were guaranteed to be treated to coffee and dessert with whipped cream.

With her passing, Helen joins her husband, Jack (2001) and her infant son, Bobby (1942) and many friends. All her children were surrounded with love from her large extended family which included her 14 brothers and sisters, Herman, Gerhardt, Ludwig, Harold, Sophie, Leonard, Bjarne, Ernest, Norman, Sigvald, Raymond, Dorothy, June Marie and John, of which Helen was the last surviving member.

She leaves us to cherish her memory and was the beloved mother of Jack (Mary) Johnston, Jennifer (Britton) Georges and Joe Johnston, the grandmother of Leif (Lana), Ingrid and Veleska Johnston and the great-grandmother of Rylee, Camryn and Preston Johnston as well as the aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.

Burial will be held at the Fir Conway Lutheran Cemetery (Milltown Road, Milltown) on Friday, February 1st at 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will be held the next day, Saturday, February 2nd at 12:00 noon, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2521 Lombard Ave., Everett, Washington 98201.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Zion Lutheran School, 103rdAve SE, Lake Stevens, Wa. 98258 or in Helen’s name to a charity of the giver’s choice.

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