Margretta Stander Johansen

Margretta was born January 9, 1935, to Chester Alfonso Stander and Ada Orgill Bickmore Stander in Bear River City, Utah. She passed peacefully at home December 1, 2017. Margretta was kind, caring, selfless, and stunningly beautiful. As a true angel on earth, heaven was always close when Margretta was present.

Margretta enjoyed being raised on a farm and was very active in 4-H during her youth. Her favorite hobby was canning. When she was 16 she won the Utah State Fair Kerr Canning Contest, and won a trip to Chicago to attend the National 4-H Club Congress. She was named a national winner and awarded a college scholarship. During her teenage years she also danced, and played the clarinet. She loved the beauty of the outdoors, especially flowers. Her hobbies also included gardening, learning new things, and reading.

Margretta graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Elementary Education and taught elementary school before and after serving an LDS mission in Western Canada.

In 1961 Margretta met and married Carl Ray Johansen, a studious Canadian BYU student who sold his beloved bagpipes to buy a car so he could date her. Together they had nine children. Her home and kitchen were always open to everyone. She was there for anyone in need of love and was considered a second mother by many. Her steady example of goodness, service, and unconditional love showed her children and grandchildren, along with countless others, how to handle the ups and downs of this life.

She was very active in the LDS church, and her favorite calling was serving in the Primary. She was avidly involved in genealogy and family history work starting as a teenager and continuing throughout her life. She also enjoyed being a temple worker for several years.

To quote her grandson Dustin Draper, who is currently serving an LDS mission:

“She was dedicated to the Lord and to her Family. She was an ‘Unsung Hero’. I never heard her complain. She just did her thing and just ‘Worked’. Not for herself, but for others. The characteristics that Grandma carried throughout her life emulates Christ himself; the pure love of Christ! If all people were and ever would be like unto Margretta Johansen, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; the devil would never have power over the hearts of the Children of Men. Her faith never wavered. All of her children are active. Margretta Johansen... The Woman, the Myth, and the Legend.”

Margretta had strong faith in and love for her Savior, Jesus Christ, and always knew she was a daughter of God.

Margretta was preceded in death by her husband Carl Ray Johansen, her parents Chester and Ada (Bickmore) Stander, her brother Chester Ray Stander, and brother-in-law Jack Hodges. She is survived by her children Linda (Douglas) Cotton, Karen (Kurt) Poch, Judy (Roscoe) Nelson, Diane (David) Draper, Ray Johansen, Tamra (Tetsuya) Ishida, Mark (Erin) Johansen, Darlene (Jared) King, Kevin (Jacqueline) Johansen, Debie (Carl) Washburn, and her siblings Renee Hodges, Roland (Valorie) Stander, Max (Jolene) Stander, Leah (Danny) Dever, Jill (Bill) Kerr. She is also survived by her 31 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

A viewing in her honor will be held on Friday, December 8th from 6 to 8 PM at the Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary located at 1007 W South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah 84095 and again before her funeral service Saturday December 9th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 116 E 11400 S in Draper, Utah 84070. Her funeral services will be held following the viewing on December 9th at 11:00 AM in the chapel. She will be buried in the Bear River City Cemetery next to her husband, parents, and brother. Anyone who would like to attend any of these events is welcome; no special invitation is needed.