Jean Marsolie Johnson, 93

God saw her getting tired, her pain not meant to be, so he put his arms around her and whispered, “Please, come to me.”

Jean Marsolie Johnson passed away at Life Care Center in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Sept. 26, 2016, at age 93.

Jean was born May 6, 1923, in Redmond, Ore., to James Paul and Clara Neil. While growing up she lived in Oregon, California and finally settled in White Salmon, Wash. After growing up she went to chef school, then electrician training, and then became a journeyman welder, working for Commercial Iron Works under the Ross Island Bridge in Portland, Ore., during World War II.

Jean married Rudy Johnson on April 16, 1944.

Jean and Rudy moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1946 living on the North Bench. In 1953, they purchased the farm in Moravia and District 1 where they farmed grain in the district, raised cattle and hogs up on the bench. They were blessed with three children, Jimmy, Gladys and Marsella. Jean enjoyed sewing, gardening, working with the animals on the farm and operating the combine during harvest. She used her talents to save not only domestic animals, but wild ones. There were crows, red tail hawks, an injured deer, skunks and numerous other animals.

The farm was sold in 1973 and Jean and Rudy moved to Bingen, Wash., where they made their retirement residence. They traveled the Lower 48, Canada, and Alaska until Rudy’s death in 1993. Then Jean traveled to Australia and New Zealand. In 1996, she met her companion Warren Hack and they made their winter home in Bouse, Ariz., and summer home in Greenville, Calif., and traveled until his death in 2010. Jean then moved to Dover, Idaho, to be with her daughter Marse. She treasured the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She has touched so many lives and loved by many of those she touched.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rudy Johnson; her companion, Warren Hack; a brother, Paul Neil; two sisters, Almeta Rowland, and Adele Manly; her son, Jimmy Johnson; and a daughter, Gladys Hunsaker. She is survived by her daughter, Marse (Charles Sr.) Shobe of Dover; a son-in-law, Rod Hunsaker of Milton, Wash.; her grandchildren, James (Kim) Hunsaker of Lakebay, Wash., Katrina (Will) Turner of Tacoma, Wash., Jamie Machael (Michael) Emerson of Dover, Charity (Shane) Gilmore of Sagle, Idaho, and Charles Shobe of Dover; a step-granddaughter, Melissa Shobe of Sandpoint; eight great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren and four step-great-great-grandchildren; very special persons, Sugar Lauterbach of Lyle, Wash., and Gary and Chaoyang Hack of Bay of Islands, New Zealand; and many nephews and nieces.

Memorials can be given in Jean’s name to First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint, or Trinity Lutheran in Bonners Ferry. Graveside service will be held at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Lori Morton.