Wanda (Stanger) Johnson

Wanda Stanger Johnson, 88, of Bountiful, Utah, formerly of Lincoln, passed away January 3, 2021, at Welcome Home Assisted Living.

Wanda was born August 1, 1932, in Rigby, Idaho, to James Ritchie Stanger and Pearl Armstrong Stanger. Wanda had a love for learning, she learned to read when she was 5 years old. She attended schools in Rigby, Annis, Poplar, then Rigby again, then Ririe. After Ririe, her family moved to Lincoln, Idaho, where Wanda graduated from Ammon High School.

On March 12, 1951, she married her sweetheart, Myron “Hop” Johnson at her parent’s home in Lincoln, Idaho. Hop passed away on March 2, 2005. On March 11, 2006, Hop and Wanda were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. After moving to various places in Idaho and Wyoming, Wanda and Hop made their home in Lincoln, Idaho, where they were blessed to live across the street, kiddie corner, from where her parents lived, and that’s where they raised their four children. Wanda worked at various potato processing plants; Simplot, Roger Brothers, and a few others. Her last position was at Pillsbury in Shelly, Idaho.

Wanda was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life. She loved attending church and she loved the teachings of Jesus Christ. She enjoyed teaching primary, she loved teaching the girls how to crochet and she truly loved the children that she taught.

Wanda loved being outside, fishing and gardening were definitely her favorite activities.

Wanda was one of the kindest, sweetest ladies that was ever on this earth. She was warm and genuinely nice. Part of what made her so genuine was her honest nature. She was honest and truthful in all that she did. As sweet as she was, she also really enjoyed a good joke. She loved to laugh and had the brightest smile to go along with it.

Wanda’s smile and warm spirit were contagious. She knew how to make everyone feel loved, and she gave her love unconditionally. She meant so much to so many people. Not only was she a wonderful mother with seemingly infinite patience, she was also a caregiver to her own mother, her husband, her brother, and anyone else who she thought she could help. She loved and cared for all of her friends, family, and neighbors.

Wanda was full of energy and loved to keep busy.  When you went to visit Wanda, she was always excited to see you!  As soon as you pulled into the gravel driveway, she would run out to give you the biggest hugs. Even with all of her energy, Wanda really took the time to listen to you, she cared about the details of your life. She was such a good listener, she made you feel worthwhile. She had a fun and bubbly personality that made her easy to talk to. Her kind, warm spirit always made you feel at home.

Through all of life’s ups and downs, Wanda made a conscious choice to be happy come what may. She had a big heart, she was full of love and so much joy that you could see it on her always smiling face.

Wanda is survived by her son, Kelle (Sue) Johnson of Blackfoot, ID; son, Bruce (Julie) Johnson of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Suzanne (Dwight) Galloway of Bountiful, UT; daughter, Kathleen (Mark) Wilkins of Bountiful, UT; 9 grandchildren, 9 step-grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Pearl Stanger; husband, Myron “Hop” Johnson; son, Darrel Dee Johnson; brothers, James Victor Stanger, Alfred Lloyd Stanger, and Jay Bruce Stanger.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, with Dwight Galloway officiating. The family will visit with friends from 9-9:30 a.m. prior to services. Burial will be in the Iona Cemetery.