Augusta Hope Johnston

Augusta Hope Elliott Johnston was born on September 26, 1925 to Fred and Anna Mehrer in Lustre, Montana. She and her twin brother were the eldest of six children. As a teenager, her family moved to Eastern Washington for a short time and then on to Portland, Oregon to work in the shipyards during World War II. It was there, while welding liberty ships, that she met her first husband, Frank Albert Elliott. The couple moved to Creswell, Oregon after the war ended where she bore and raised four children. She worked in Cottage Grove, Oregon as a dental assistant. When the four children were grown, she relocated to Southern California. After achieving success as an entrepreneur, Augusta met and married Bruce Johnston. Together they owned Apache Oil Company. After retirement, Augusta and Bruce moved to Salem, Oregon to be near her oldest daughter and her grandchildren. After her daughter passed, her granddaughter Angela (Robert) Perkey was very involved with her care and managed her affairs til Augusta's passing. Angela's children Jordan and Morgan were also close to their great-grandmother. Augusta loved collecting dishes and had special place settings for every holiday and event. She also was a green thumb and could grow anything. Augusta is survived by a daughter, Shirley Elliott of Bozeman, Montana; a son Richard Elliott of Bozeman, Montana; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands; one daughter Beverly Walker of Aumsville, Oregon; and one son James Elliott of Seattle, Washington. Private services will be held.