Bernice Rupp Johnson's Obituary
Bernice Rupp Johnson was born on August 30th, 1927, and died peacefully in her sleep on December 28, 2025 at age 98. She was born in Tacoma, WA. to Oliva and Ole Kvamme and lived in Tacoma until 2020, when she moved to Mukilteo to be near her daughter and son-in-law.
Bernice was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister. Her family was always her first priority. She was a life long member of Life Center Church in Tacoma and had a strongly quiet faith which she expressed in her love and care for others. She combined a career and homemaking effortlessly. For Paulson’s Inc. she worked as a bookkeeper and managed technology when computers were as big as a room. For Tacoma Public Schools she scheduled the classes for Truman Middle School students. At home she kept a beautiful, welcoming and amazingly clean house and was known for her sense of style and happy laughter.
Bernice was married to Kenneth Rupp for 49 years. He passed 1996, and four years later, she lost her daughter, Robyn Gollatz. Bernice was single until she found love again in her 80’s and was married to Harley Johnson for two years before he passed. Through all her loss she remained hopeful and faithful. Her strength was an example to us all.
Bernice was also preceded in death my her parents Ole and Oliva Kvamme, a sister,Marvel Smythe, and a brother, Reuben Kvamme. She is survived by sisters, Ida Hagen, Edith Stageberg,and JoAnn Glass, daughter, Bev Fesharaki (Mo), grand daughters, Liz Karna Huehnergarth, and Anne Janda (Joel), one step granddaughter, Jennifer Fesharaki (Brian Weber), six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration in her honor will take place at 1:00 on Monday January 26 at Life Center Central Campus, 1717 South Union Ave. Tacoma, WA. Donations may go to your favorite charity or you might want to go out to lunch in her memory.
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