<p>Vieno Mary (Wahlbom) Johnsen</p>

Vieno Mary (Wahlbom) Johnsen

Knappa

March 12, 1926 January 13, 2014

Vieno Mary (Wahlbom) Johnsen passed away at her home in Knappa, Oregon, on January 13, 2014.

She was the fifth of eight children born to Finnish immigrants Kalle and Saima (Maki) Wahlbom on March 12, 1926. Vieno was born at home in Svensen, Oregon, with her grandmother Miina Maki as her midwife.

She learned to swim when her four brothers tossed her into the water at Svensen Island. She was a natural swimmer, jumping off the Svensen Island bridge many times, to her mothers dismay.

Vieno was very outgoing, and had many friends during her school years. She attended a one-room schoolhouse, where she excelled. Her teacher, Mr. McGowan, gave her special awards for her speech writing.

Finnish was the spoken language at home. Vieno quickly caught on to English. Fin-glish was the Finnish-English slang in the neighborhood.

Vieno moved to Astoria her last year of schooling, where she graduated with honors from Astoria High School. In town, she lived with and worked for doctors and electricians family as a nanny, cook, housekeeper, helper and caregiver.

She loved to dance. Vieno attended many functions in Astoria and at the Grange Hall in Svensen. She met Russell at a dance when she was fourteen. They were married two days before her 18th birthday in Raymond, Washington.

Russell joined the Navy as a medic, while Vieno stayed with family at home. She lived in California with her aunt and uncle and first-born daughter, Becky, until Russells return from the service, when Becky was six months old. They lived in naval housing (Dogpatch) until they bought a house in Knappa in 1952, where they raised their then three daughters.

Vieno loved the outdoors and gardening. She planted everything, including the laurel hedges (from starts) that surround the homestead. She was an excellent seamstress, cook, baker and canner. Her specialties were her chicken pot pie, apple pie and applesauce; special cakes for birthdays and her baked bread and cinnamon rolls.

Russell and Vieno also pickled, smoked and canned the fish Russell caught. They raised milk cows, beef, capons, chickens and rabbits. She hunted, fished, camped (camp cook) and went on many outings to Eastern Oregon and Wickiup Mountain and Big Creek with Russell and the girls.

She began working at Groves Poultry Farm in the 60s, then worked at Astoria Laundry and finally at Bumble Bee Seafoods, where she retired due to physical disabilities.

The family had many pets, including many pregnant stray cats. She loved to feed all the wildlife, especially the birds. She was an amateur artist, avid reader, and a fan of Wheel of Fortune and Betty Davis and Katherine Hepburn movies. She loved to talk of the old days and the love of her life, Russell, and her first-born daughter, Becky, who died in an auto accident in 1996.

She was a quick-witted conversationalist, had a great sense of humor, a beautiful smile, and blue eyes and that special little wink that will always be missed.

Preceding her in death were her parents Kalle and Saima, husband Russell, daughter Rebecca, brothers Toivo, Tauno, Eino and Reino, and sister Lillian.

She is survived by daughters Marcia (Danny) Kis Jr. of Warrenton, Oregon, and Linda (Frank) Slowinski of Seattle, Wash.; sisters Judith (Richard) Smith of Forest Grove, Oregon, and Ellen (Jim) Russell of Sweet Home, Oregon; grandchildren Travis (Shanin) Patterson of Astoria, Oregon, Clint (Danielle) Patterson of Astoria, Oregon, Sabrina Kis of Seattle, Wash., Salina (Kis) Hill of Renton, Wash., Angelina Kis of Los Angeles, Calif., Nicholas Kis of Concord, Calif.; Amy (Brandon) Martin of Olympia, Wash., Bridget (Christopher) Slowinski-Fields of Seattle, Wash.; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Clatsop County Animal Shelter, 1315 S.E. 19th St., Warrenton, OR 97146, 503-861-7387.

Caldwells Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com