Grace Mjolsness Johnston, 100
Grace Mjolsness Johnston, 100, died of natural causes on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at the Riverside Health Care Center in Missoula.
She was born on Feb. 4, 1907 in Nahma, Mich., the first child of Asa and Ina Curtis. The family moved to Astoria, Ore., then to a homestead near Fortine. She attended high school in Eureka, and received a two-year degree from Montana State Normal College in Dillon. Later she graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula.
She married Joe Mjolsness in 1933 and lived in Highwood, Power and Cut Bank.
Before her marriage, she taught in several one-room country schools. After World War II, she taught at Willard then Jefferson schools in Missoula. She retired in 1970 having taught for a total of 32 years.
In 1982, she married Carl Johnston and moved to Thompson Falls, where she was active in the Community Congregational Church.
She was a member of the Thompson Falls Woman's Club, Homemakers, Western Montana Retired Teachers, Delta Kappa Gamma and a bridge club.
After Carl's death in 1999, she moved to Clark Fork Riverside in Missoula. There she continued to play bridge and pinochle. She also knitted baby caps for newborns at Community Hospital, grew flowers and vegetables on her balcony, and was an avid reader.
Grace loved to explore the world and traveled to many countries in Europe and Asia as well as Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii.
Grace was much loved and has been an inspiration and a role model for many people. When asked the secret of her longevity, here's what she said: "You need good genes in the beginning, then you have to think about your vitamins and daily exercise and eat well; take good care of yourself. But most important is your attitude. We are all God's children going down the same road and we need to be good to each other, do what we can, appreciate what we have. And that's all I know about what it takes to be an old, old, old, old woman."
Grace was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son; her husband, Carl, and granddaughter, Tracy Bond.
She is survived by her sister, Ruth Pomeroy, of Kalispell; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Loren Smith, of Portland;, grandson and wife, Greg and Ellen Bond, of Meridian, Idaho; great-grandson, Bryan Bond, of Meridian; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Clark Fork Riverside, 301 W. Front Street, Missoula, with Dan Cravy officiating. An inurnment will be held in the Spring at the Fortine Cemetery in Fortine.
The family suggests that memorials may be made to either the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Garden City Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.