Eunice Elaine Johansen

Eunice Elaine Johansen 89, b. September 29, 1927, d. August 18, 2017, made her transition on Friday August 18, 2017 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Eunice Elaine Elvick was born September 29, 1927 in Grand Forks, North Dakota to Nelson H. and Agnes E. (Ona) Elvick. She was raised on a farm just south of the small town of Michigan in Nelson County, attended public schools in both Michigan and Grand Forks and graduated from Michigan High School. She graduated from The University of North Dakota with a B.S. degree in Commerce. Eunice married Einar Donald (Don) Johansen on November 6, 1949 in Michigan, North Dakota.

In 1950 Eunice and Don moved to Wyoming where Don started his career with Montgomery Wards and where they started their family. Regular transfers took them to Green River and Rock Springs, Wyoming, followed by Fort Collins, Grand Junction, and finally Denver, Colorado where they settled. After17 years at Wards, Don finished his career with Kmart in Arvada, Colorado. He died of cancer on December 18, 1988. Eunice never re-married.

Most of Eunice's life and work revolved around service. Eunice and Don moved into their one and only home in Arvada, Colorado in1958 where Eunice continued to live after Don's death until 2003. She raised four children, supported Don in his career, and did extensive volunteer work for King of Glory Lutheran Church. In 1967 Eunice returned to school and in 1969 obtained her teaching certificate from the University of Colorado at Denver. She then became a substitute teacher in the Jefferson County school system. Eunice also worked in the catalog department at Sears & Roebuck and later as a tax preparer for H&R block. After her children were grown she worked for many years as a teachers aide at Fitzmorris Elementary School until her retirement. After retiring, as well as being very involved with her social sorority, Eunice became highly involved with her local chapter of the Sons of Norway where she started a Norwegian history group and helped operate their bookstore and gift shop. A highlight of her later years was traveling to Norway to tour the country and visit relatives.

Eunice was also a very active and social person making friends wherever she went. She loved coffee and a good conversation anytime it was available. Eunice enjoyed reading probably more than any other activity and regular trips to the library were part of her routine. She particularly loved history and historical fiction and had interests in a broad range of subjects. Eunice was also a great sports fan. Early on she especially enjoyed the rivalry between the University of North Dakota and Denver University hockey teams. In Arvada she developed a love of following sports on the radio and television, especially the Denver Bears minor-league baseball team and the Denver Broncos football team. From 1964 to 1987 a Bronco game was rarely missed in the Johansen house, where she loved the party atmosphere whenever her kids and grandchildren would meet there to cheer the Broncos. But her favorite sport was baseball and when Denver acquired a major league baseball franchise "The Colorado Rockies" they became her team.

Eunice sold the Arvada home in 2003 and moved into The Meridian, a retirement community, just a block away, where she lived happily for the next ten years. In the fall of 2014, due to a period of poor health and loss of mobility, she moved to an assisted care facility in Fort Collins, CO near her daughter Judy. In early 2016 she moved into a nursing home and passed away naturally August 2017, one month short of her 90th birthday. During her last year, Eunice reflected and said she had a very happy and fulfilling life and got what she wanted, which was her own home and family.

Eunice is survived by sons David Johansen (Janie), Daniel Johansen (Joy), daughters Diane Dowgiert (Andy) and Judith Mazarin (former husband Matt). She is also survived by five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and brothers, Roger and Neil, and sister Glenna.