Oct. 27, 1917 – Aug. 11, 2008
Bonnie Louella Johnston, 90, a longtime resident of Sweet Home and Foster, died Aug. 11, 2008.
She was born Oct. 27, 1917 in Metzger to John Fredrick and Minnie Jane (Evans) Baughman. She was the second child and the only girl of eight children.
Around 1920, the family moved to Arkansas and lived there until 1936, when they returned to Oregon, settling in the Crabtree area.
She worked on the family farm, harvested various crops in Washington, Oregon and California yearly, and helped raise her four younger brothers. In the late 1940s she worked in the kitchen at Blowout logging camp, near Detroit, cooking for the many loggers. There she met her husband-to-be, Ralph Johnston.
The Johnstons married on June 14, 1947. They continued to work at Blowout for a short time before moving to Salem. While in Salem, her first two sons, Keith and Kenneth, were born. In 1951 the family moved to Sweet Home, where their third son, Larry, was born.
The family built Mrs. Johnston’s dream house, overlooking Foster Reservoir, from 1962 through 1964. She lived there until moving into the Wiley Creek Community Assisted Living Facility in 2004.
Mrs. Johnston loved keeping busy. After her boys were grown, she worked at the Porta Via Motel in Sweet Home. With a friend of hers, she started an upholstering business in her basement. This was very successful for many years. In her spare time she made soap, painted houses, became a talented artist, made hundreds of quilts, most of which she donated to the Sweet Home Fire Department, and raised flower and vegetable gardens beyond compare.
She is survived by her sons (and daughters-in-law), Keith (Linda) of Salem, Kenneth (Sherry) of Sweet Home and Larry (Judee) of Albany; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph and all her brothers.
A memorial service was held Aug. 15 at Elm Street Baptist Church in Sweet Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.