Elizabeth Louise Eischen

Elizabeth “Betty” Louise Johansen Eischen

1931-2025

Elizabeth “Betty” Louise Johansen was born in Easton, California, in 1931 to Bertha and Jens Olaf Augustus (JOA) Johansen. Her father passed away just four months after her birth, leaving her mother a widow with three children to raise on their farm, where they grew grapes. Betty grew up, always with a dog by her side, and enjoyed a wide circle of family and friends, including lots of laughs with her brother Jay, a prankster. She lived a long, full life, overcoming many hardships with the love of her life, Stanley, beside her in marriage for 75 years! Her family’s love and devotion was evident in her final days as they gathered around her saying their goodbyes with tenderness and gratitude.

Betty graduated from Washington Union High School in 1948, then completed one year of business school and worked for Pacific Gas & Electric as a payroll clerk for four years. In 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Stanley M. Eischen, and together they raised six children–including two sets of twins!

While Stanley pursued a career in retail management, Betty poured her energy into homemaking, raising children (and a menagerie of pets), volunteering at church, school, and wherever she was needed. She was spunky, fun-loving, curious, resourceful, and never idle.

A gifted gardener, she enjoyed transforming every yard into a beautiful landscape. She loved experimenting with different cuisines and let her children take over the kitchen when they wanted to explore. An avid reader, she passed on that love by reading daily with her children, teaching them to read, and taking them on regular trips to the library. She delighted in taking her children and later her grandchildren on field trips to the zoo, the beach, parks, museums, live theater, and we can’t forget the antique stores–always on a quest for fun and adventure.

Because of Stanley’s career, the family moved often. First, from Fresno to the San Francisco Bay Area, then down to Southern California, and in 1969 to the small north Idaho town of Coeur d’Alene. There, Betty discovered a grand, beautiful home sitting vacant and it became her next project! She created a beautiful interior and a show-stopping garden, with pet geese that followed her as she worked in the garden. In 1975, they regrettably were transferred back to Southern California and then in 1980, to Portland, Oregon, where they remained through Stan’s retirement. For 20 years they enjoyed life as snowbirds before settling most recently in St George, Utah at an excellent assisted living community near their daughter.

Betty was a most adventuresome free spirit and curious about everything–always ready to strike up a conversation, ask a question, or learn something new. She loved nature, plants, animals, sewing, and handiwork, creating beauty wherever she went with love. She rested in her lifelong faith within the Lutheran Church, grounding her in the quiet confidence that God was always with her and her family.

She and Stan traveled widely many times to Europe, Egypt, and cruising several times–especially cherishing their Alaskan voyages, which they took twice.She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother James (Jay) Johansen, her sister Margaret Ann Beck, her granddaughter Elsa, great-granddaughter Ella Grace, and other dear family members and friends.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Stanley Eischen; her children Jane Hansen (James), Joan Antonich, Lois Miesbach (Neal), John Eischen (Roberta), James “Augie” Eischen (Elizabeth), and Lynne Poisson (Bill); grandchildren Ivan Antonich (Ambur), Jessica Henry (Nathan), Matthew Antonich (Alicia), Elizabeth Pohrman, Sarah Pohrman, and Jonah Eischen; great-grandchildren William Meisenheimer, Blake Henry, Cole Henry, Ava Henry, Jackson Schwann, Lucas Antonich, and Bella Lee Nelson.

We love her and will miss her wit, laughter, beautiful smile, confidence, inquisitiveness, and her joy in the ordinary. She was the best wife, Mom, grandmother (Grammie), and great-grandmother (GG) we could have asked for–and she loved each of us for the individuals we are.

Hugs and love from here to there–

Your loving husband, Stanley, all your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren