Castle Rock, WA—S. Margretta Johnston, 89, passed away from cancer at the Ray Hickey House in Vancouver, WA on February 13, 2013. Margretta was born May 28, 1923, in Great Falls, MT to Edward and Ethel (Sparks) Thorson. She was raised in the Monarch, Hugesville area of Montana and graduated from Belt High School in 1942. After attending the commercial college in Great Falls, Margretta worked at Bausch & Lomb as an eye glass technician. On February 24, 1951, Margretta married Forest Johnston in Fort Benton, Mont. After marrying they moved to Alaska where they lived for 5 years before moving to Southern California. They lived in many places, primarily in California, until settling in Rainier, OR in 1967. In 1986 she moved to Castle Rock, WA where she was a valued community member and received many awards for her voluntary service including Citizen of the Year for Outstanding Service to the Community of Castle Rock in 2005. Margretta was a member of the Castle Rock Women's Club where she served as their treasurer for the past 19 years. In 1994 Margretta joined the Phythian Sisters and went on to hold several offices including treasurer, grand chief and deputy grand chief. Margretta was a member of the Castle Rock Senior Center and served as their president for 5 years and treasurer until shortly before her death. She was also a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Castle Rock. She became a member of the Great Falls Ladies Auxiliary #14 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 2006 when she lived at Eagle Manor for a short time before returning to her home in Castle Rock. Margretta enjoyed hiking and at the age of 86, Margretta received a medal for being the oldest person to climb the 'Rock' in Castle Rock. Margretta enjoyed gardening, traveling the United States and Internationally, being the treasurer for her clubs, her family and her many friends. Margretta was preceded in death by her husband, Forest Johnston in 1992; her sisters Charlotte Bowman Fischel, Dorothea Kimbrel and Opal Matye; and her brother Maurice Thorson. Margretta is survived by her two sons and a daughter, her brother Clifford, four grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

Complete obituary published in Great Falls Tribune on May 23, 2013