Wrangell Sentinel -

Laura Nan Johnston, 82 died on January 19, 2015.

Born to Wendell and June Abell, on February 26, 1932 in Chama, N.M. Laura's mother taught for The Bureau of Indian Affairs moving them to Sitka, Alaska where she lived through high school. She attended Oregon State University (OSU) as a Delta Zeta and with a Major in Science she became a Medical Technician. She met Norman Dale Johnston whose major was Fisheries Biology, they both graduated in 1955, were married in 1956 and by 1959 Norman had accepted a job with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game right at the time it became our 49th state. Her first son Dale was born in Wrangell, her next two were born in Petersburg where Laura worked at Petersburg General Hospital doing X-Rays and lab tests up until 1973 when Norman was promoted and they moved to Juneau. In 1975 Norman died from an aneurism forcing Laura to leave Alaska.

Laura and her boys moved to Oregon where Norman's two brothers lived and began her medical career once again. Laura enjoyed square dancing where she met John Brewer who passed away in 2004. She took numerous trips with her church group plus still had time for volunteer work such as Meals on Wheels, and at the Community Library and Senior Center when she wasn't knitting something for her children. Laura's last years she spent with a retired school teacher she met through an internet dating service named Paul Williamson and their Chesapeake Lab, Brownie.

Laura is survived by her two sons, Glen from Boise, Idaho, Russ from Hillsboro, Ore., and her grandchildren.

No service was held but interment was at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Portland, Ore.