Nancy Mae Johnson, 83

Nancy Mae Johnson was born May 15, 1932, in Dalton, Neb., and passed away March 18, 2016, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

She was the only child born to Ted and Betty Englert. Her early years were spent in Nebraska on the family wheat farm. She recalled running through the wheat fields to deliver lunch to her dad and the necessity of wearing knee-high boots to protect her from rattlesnakes. She also had a German Shepherd dog that went everywhere with her. The dog, which Nancy inherited from her Grandpa Englert, would kill any snake it encountered.

Nancy attended first and second grade in Dalton, she walked or rode her bike three miles to the one-room schoolhouse. She had a girlfriend that she would meet along the way and the girls would switch rides, Nancy taking her friend's horse and the friend taking Nancy's bike. The neighbors by the school would plant watermelon and cantaloupe and in the fall they would bring a trailer load to the school for all the kids to eat and enjoy.

Nancy had trouble with nose bleeds and her doctor suggested moving to a lower altitude. Her doctor vacationed in Coeur d'Alene and recommended the area to her parents, so in 1937, the family moved to Sandpoint, Idaho. For many years, they traveled back and forth from Nebraska to Idaho. Her father would plant winter wheat in the fall, and then all three of them, along with the family dog and the pet bird, would load up in the family's 1939 Chevy grain truck and head to Idaho. The same trip would happen in the reverse to Nebraska in the spring.

Grades three through five were split between Lincoln or Farmin School in Sandpoint and school in Dalton. From sixth grade on, she attended school full-time in Sandpoint. Lois (Hammond) Hickey was her sixth-grade teacher. In eighth grade, Bob Zaklan was her home room teacher and Charlie Stidwell was the principal. Their first home was on Spruce Street, then after several years they purchased a home on Superior Street, and their final home was on Marion Street. She was selected as Sandpoint High School's first homecoming queen. Nancy graduated from high school in 1950. Her school days are remembered fondly as many friendships developed into lifelong friends.

After high school, she enrolled in Kinman Business College in Spokane. She was elected Phi Rosota Sorority Queen and was selected queen of Fort George Wright representing the YWCA. Follow-ing Kinman, her family moved to Colorado, and Nancy accepted a job in Greely as an executive secretary for the head of the Greely Medical Center. The family stayed there for a year and then returned to Sandpoint. Upon returning, she started working for Northern Lights as a secretary to the engineering department.

In 1954, she started dating Don Johnson, a beau from her high school days. They were married Oct. 1, 1955, at the Presbyterian Church in Sandpoint. They built a home in the Oden area, where they have been lifelong residents. Nancy was very active in the Hope PTO, Oden Busy Bees, the Bonner County Cattlewomen and the Pack River Thimble Club.

Nancy always loved to go fishing and often came home with the catch of the day. During her younger years she enjoyed hunting with Don, going huckleberry picking and loved dancing. In later years, Thursdays were spent having lunch and playing pinochle at the Sandpoint Senior Center and every other Tuesday brought more pinochle and a ladies luncheon with her dear friends. She also enjoyed watching the Seahawks, Mariners, and the Zags!

Don and Nancy have two boys, Brian (Loretta), and Arnold (Sandra); and a daughter, Jill. They also have five grandchildren, Nicholas, Christina, Matthew, Shauna and Madison. Nancy also is survived by her Aunt Joy Jasinski of Texas and a cousin, Paul Englert of Washington. As an only child, Nancy dearly loved all of her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and all of their children and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 26, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service. Following burial at Pinecrest Cemetery, a time of gathering and sharing will be held at The Oden Hall. Donations can be made in Nancy's honor to The Oden Busy Bees, 3465 Sunnyside Road, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864; or Sandpoint Senior Center, 820 Main St., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign the guestbook, for Nancy, at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Coffelt Funeral Service.