Anna M. "A.J." Johnson

On January 22nd Anna ( A J ) Johnson passed away peacefully at home after a courageous 8 year battle with cancer.

Anna was born on June 17, 1946 in Grandview, WA to Leland and Eva Hendricks. She was raised and educated in Toppenish, graduating in 1964. She married her high school sweetheart, Jim Johnson, in the fall of that year. Anna and Jim had 3 children – Mike, Cheryl and Dawn.

They made their homes in various towns in throughout the lower valley ‘From one end to the other’ settling in Selah for the last 24 yrs.

As Anna’s children grew and started school she began her 18 year career in law enforcement. Her career began in the mid 70s as a dispatcher/clerk with the Granger Police Dept. Later she worked for the Toppenish Police Dept. and finished her law enforcement career with the Selah Police Dept. During her law enforcement career she was a Charter Member of “LEIRA” (Law Enforcement Information & Records Association), a statewide training association. She served as President of “LEIRA” for two years, 1992 & 1993.

Anna left law enforcement to begin working with the Teamsters Union, first at Local 524, then at Local 760.

Through her work in dispatching in Selah, Anna developed a relationship with the Selah Fire Department. She joined the fire dept to work on the Fire Fighter Rehab Unit bringing food, water and supplies to the fire fighters on scene. She continued to work with the fire dept as long as her health allowed. Anna enjoyed serving her community and took pride in the men & women she worked with.

Jim & Anna loved to camp, either at the ocean or in the mountains. Most of the summers were spent next to a lake so Jim could fish and Anna could camp, first with their kids and then with the grandkids.

Whether she was at home, work or camping, Anna was the ‘Go To’ person for everything. With her love of cooking she organized and prepared most of the food at any function. She was a fantastic cook.

Anna was preceded in death by her parents, Leland Hendricks and Eva Krebs; her grandparents; her brother, Gary Krebs; and her Son-In-Law, John Kroll. She is survived by her husband, Jim Johnson; son, Mike (Arlene) Johnson; daughters, Cheryl Kroll and Dawn Johnson; two sisters, Helen Krebs, Teresa (George) Monty; brother, Louis (Lisa) Krebs; Daughter-In-Law, Debbie (Scott) Hanna; eight grandchildren, Jodi, Tyler, Ryan, Katlyn, Hayley, Jaklynn, Jonathan, Jacyna; 9 great-grandchildren & one on the way; Brothers-In-Law, Jerry (Carol) Johnson, Jack (Joyce) Johnson, and Ed (Sandra) Johnson.

A Memorial Service for Anna will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Keith and Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel. To share a memory of A J visit, www.keithandkeith.com.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospital in Spokane c/o Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Avenue, Yakima, WA, 98902.