Obituary: Elizabeth Johnson

Elizabeth Johnson, 75, who was instrumental in establishing the Douglas County Public Library in the mid-1960s, died Sunday at Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe.

She served as president of the Nevada State Library Association, and during her tenure, the library system in Nevada grew to include libraries in Fallon, Lovelock, the state prison system and at the Caliente Detention Center.

She chaired the committee to establish a library in 1964, guiding the process to a groundbreaking for the first library across the street from the courthouse in Minden (now the county communications building, home to 911) and the opening of the library in February of 1967.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Carson Valley United Methodist Church in Gardnerville, with interment at Mottsville Cemetery.

A gathering of friends will follow at the William Kolbe residence, 521 Mottsville Lane, Gardnerville.

"She loved to read and do crossword puzzles and beat her grandsons at Scrabble, and she had a wealth of knowledge and information," her daughter Helen Kolbe said.

Mrs. Johnson and her husband of 49 years, Knox Johnson, traveled and met people all over the world. She corresponded with her friends on a weekly basis, and writing letters was one of her talents and gifts for her friends and family, Kolbe said.

Mrs. Johnson was a charter member of the East Fork Artists Association and an active member in several other community groups. She took leadership and supporting roles in the activities of her rancher husband, her children and grandchildren, including 4-H, Douglas County Ski Club, Douglas Swim Team and the Nevada CattleWomen's Association. She was a member of the Carson Valley Literary Club and Carson Valley Art Association.

Mrs. Johnson was born June 15, 1925 in Oakland, Calif. She was raised in San Jose, Calif. and attended school in San Jose and Gardnerville. She graduated from Douglas High in 1942. She married Knox Johnson, a Carson Valley native, on March 26, 1951.

Surviving Mrs. Johnson are her husband Knox; son Bill Whaley of Taos, N.M., and daughters Mary McCall of Carmichael, Calif. and Helen Kolbe of Gardnerville, and grandsons Fitz Whaley, Justin Kolbe, Drew Kolbe, Elliott Kolbe, Tate McCall and David Johnson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Library, P.O. Box 337, Minden 89423, or the Carson Valley Art Association Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2048, Gardnerville, 89410.