Barbara Fraser left this earthly world to join her many ancestors and loved ones on August 20, 2020, from causes related to dementia. Heaven has gained a truly shining spirit. We are sure that from the minute she entered she started talking and has not stopped since, nor will she cease anytime soon. SHE HAS SO MUCH TO SAY!
Barbara Balderree was born in Escondido, California to Edgar Lee Balderree and Dulcia Mae Hinshaw. She was the eldest child in a family of four - all brothers. We suspect that is where her “teaching” instincts kicked in. She assumed the charge of keeping her three younger brothers in line at all times.
She was raised in southern California. Her family moved to Burbank after their stay in Escondido. She attended schools in that town and then continued her education at UCLA and San Diego State where she was president of her sorority.
While a student at San Diego State, she met her husband on a blind date. She wasn’t too thrilled about a date with some guy named “Harvey,” but anything was better than cramming for her psychology final the next day. “Harvey” turned out to be Arvid Johnson, an extremely handsome Navy sailor. It was love at first sight and they were married a few months later.
Barbara and Arvid quickly started their family of five girls, with Stefanie being born in 1954, followed by Heidi in 1955, Lisa in 1956, Lynette in 1957, and Kristina bringing up the rear in 1964.
When infant Stefanie was only six weeks old, Barbara and Arvid packed their young life up and moved to the farmlands of Wiggins, Colorado, Arvid’s home. It was here that the next three girls were born, and the family settled into a country life.
They found themselves in Greeley, Colorado in the next few years, where Barbara decided to finish her degree in education. The college was just across the street from their home, so why not? She graduated soon after in 1959, four little girls in tow.
The Johnson family moved back to California when Arvid took a job with the USAF working on missile construction in the space industry. Barbara started her teaching career here also, inspiring hundreds of kindergarten children and their parents. The last girl to join the family, Kristina, was born here in 1964.
Barbara was the consummate mother: chef, seamstress, Campfire leader, socialite of the neighborhood, and a constant support to her husband and daughters.
She and Arvid moved the family to Vancouver, Washington in 1970, because “Southern California is no place to raise girls.” Following a bit of a culture shock, she guided her family into adapting to life in the northwest. She completed a masters degree at Lewis and Clark college and continued to teach kindergarten for many years until she retired in 1997.
Then, the fun started. She was very active in her beloved religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and went on to serve three missions for this church. She started in New Zealand where she engulfed herself in the Maori culture, then moved on to Santa Monica, California where she returned to her childhood stomping ground and served in the family history center. After this mission was completed, she moved to Salt Lake City to again serve in the family history center.
When she felt like she was finally ready to actually “retire,” she moved to Brooksville, Florida. Even though this wasn’t her homeland of California, it still had the warm weather and beaches she so loved.
She stayed overly busy helping anyone she came across who needed anything, and again, serving several positions in her church.
Later on, she needed to stop driving and move closer to her her two adult daughters, so they could “keep an eye on her,” as she could be pretty headstrong about doing things on her own.
In the last two years of her life, even though dementia was beginning its invasion, she remained as spirited and curious as ever.
She is survived by her daughters: Stefanie English (Alexa English), Heidi Venema and Doug Venema (Brittanie Lanier and Ashleigh Fagergren), Lisa Johnson, Lynette Berven and Karl Berven (Kyle and Quinn), Kristina Hansen and Quinn Hansen (Carlie Wahlen, Cole Hansen, Sammi Hansen), eight great-grandchildren, and twin boys on the way. She also leaves behind two brothers Tom Balderree, Ted Balderree and their families.
Most importantly, she will live on in the hearts and souls of all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the thousands of people who were blessed in knowing her.
Until we meet again, farewell our selfless, adventuresome mother.
No service will be held at this time, however, a memorial will take place in the coming months.
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