Rebecca Ann Johnson

Rebecca Johnson, formerly of Fort Collins, died on Sunday, June 6, 2021, at her home in Severance, CO. She was 71. She passed peacefully in the company of her husband of 49 years after a three year struggle with ALS.

Rebecca was born Rebecca Ann Radtke, September 25, 1949 in Chicago, IL, to Helen and Harlan Radtke. Before she was one, her family moved to Westbrook, MN, and lived above the offices of the Westbrook Sentinel newspaper which her parents owned and operated. When she was 11, her family sold the newspaper and moved to Estes Park, CO. There they owned, operated and lived at the Twin Owls Motor Lodge. Rebecca worked at the motel while going to school in Estes Park.

While attending the University of Colorado in Boulder, Rebecca met her husband, Richard. A post-college job washing dogs sparked her lifetime love of dogs. In 1972, Rebecca and Richard took the back seat out of her Ford Mustang, put in three puppies and eloped on a road trip to California. That same year, Rebecca opened her own dog grooming shop in Fort Collins, the Pedigree. Richard soon joined to support the growing family business. Rebecca and Richard operated the Pedigree from home, side by side, for 32 years until they retired in 2004.

In retirement, they moved to Severance, CO, and enjoyed exploring the US in their RV, taking care of their home and spending quiet days together.

Rebecca loved animals, especially dogs. She rode horses and raised chickens. In her later years, she was a proud supporter of Ironwood Pig Sanctuary in Tucson, AZ. She also loved reading, gardening, listening to music and playing piano.

Rebecca was devoted to and is survived by her husband, Richard Johnson; children Torry (Mary), Ryan (Alexa), and Dane (Courtney); and one granddaughter, Sydney.

A private family memorial will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Ironwood Pig Sanctuary at https://www.ironwoodpigs.org .