Beverly Jean Johnson

Beverly Jean Johnson received her upgrade into the arms of her Heavenly Father on March 22, 2026, in Bellingham, WA. Bev was born on January 9, 1937, in Bellingham, to David and Margaret (Schwab) Elsasser. Bev was raised on the family farm in Ferndale off Slater Road with her younger brother Marvin. She graduated from Ferndale High School as valedictorian. She then moved to Eugene, Oregon to attend Bible School where she met her soon-to-be husband, Bill Johnson. Bev and Bill would frequently recount that their Bible School teachers told them that their relationship "would never work." Bill and Bev proudly proved them wrong by moving to Bellingham where they married on January 4, 1958, and saved up enough money to build their family home in 1960, where they lived for the remainder of their married life- 65 years! Their firstborn daughter, Sheri, was born in 1958. Their second-born daughter, Tami, was born in 1964.

Bev was a very hard-working woman who had various bookkeeping jobs throughout her life to include working for Bellingham Hardware, DePaul's Jewelry, and Bellingham Travel. In addition to working full time, she found time to have a hot meal on the table every evening for her family, handmade clothes for Sheri and Tami, and pressure-can fruits and vegetables that she grew in her immaculate garden. Their yard also included a magazine-worthy flower garden in the front and back of the house. Bill and Bev spent many, many hours working in their gardens together. This continued to be a passion for Bev throughout her life. In her latter years, her loving caretaker, Liliya, spent hours outside with Bev ensuring all her beautiful flowers were well-kept. Bev loved southern gospel music and she and Bill attended every Southern Gospel concert in the local area as well as traveling to concerts in Branson, Missouri. They were delighted when they got to have lunch with Bill and Gloria Gaither while in Branson.

Bev's favorite pastime was spent with her "precious family" and beloved friends. She and Bill spent every Sunday with family after church. Multiple times throughout the week, you'd find them having lunch at Wanida Thai with friends or leading the Seniors Group at Bellingham CTK. Bev had the gift of hospitality and would "adopt" people into the family everywhere she went- whether it was the jewelry counter at Kohl's, the checkout stand at Fred Meyer, the wait staff at Wanida's, or the person sitting next to her at church. She would add their phone number to her lengthy list at home and make her weekly calls to check in on them. Bev spread the love of Jesus everywhere she went. She faithfully served the Lord her whole life and stayed deeply connected in church until the week she was greeted in Heaven by her Savior.

Bev was preceded in death by her parents, brother Marvin, and sister-in-law Leslie. She is survived by her daughter Sheri Johnson and Tami (Hope) Dockter; granddaughter, MacKinzie (Colin) Sutton and grandson Nathan Dockter; great-grandsons, Jedson, Jericho, Jagger, and Judah; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, April 11th at 11am at New Song Church (4600 Guide Meridian, Bellingham).