Virginia Johnson

Virginia Lynn Johnson, known affectionately as “Ginny” to her Oregon family and friends, passed away on March 4, 2026, in Boise, Idaho, surrounded by her loved ones. Born on May 5, 1946, in North Bend, Oregon, she was the youngest of five daughters born to Harold and Mary Strine. Raised in the Coos Bay area, Ginny graduated from Marshfield High School in 1964 and later attended business school in Portland. She built a long and successful career in the insurance industry, working in Watsonville and Fresno, California, before settling in Idaho. In 1973 she joined All-American Insurance in Meridian, where she served as Head Bookkeeper until she and her husband Jim retired and sold the business in 1999.

On November 11, 1979, Ginny married Walter R. “Jim” Johnson. Together they created a life rich in family, friendship, and community service. They were blessed with two daughters, Jennifer and Carissa, who remained the center of Ginny’s world. She devoted countless hours to attending her daughters’ school and sporting events and later did the same for her grandchildren. Deeply committed to giving back, Ginny served as an Ambassador for the Meridian Chamber of Commerce and was an active member of the Meridian Chapter of Soroptimist International, holding numerous committee roles and serving as President. Her many years of volunteer work and leadership were recognized in 2001 when she was named Woman of the Year by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce.

Ginny and Jim loved to travel, exploring more than a dozen countries throughout Europe, Mexico, and Chile, as well as making frequent trips to Hawaii, especially the Big Island. One particularly meaningful journey took her to Žleby in what was then Czechoslovakia, her mother’s birthplace. In 1994 they became founding members of SpurWing Country Club in Meridian, where Ginny embraced golf and became actively involved in the Ladies Association for nearly three decades.

Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 and later breast cancer, Ginny faced both illnesses with remarkable determination and resilience. Though initially given only a couple of years to live, she endured extensive treatment and was eventually declared cancer-free. She spent her final eight years in assisted living, supported daily by the steadfast love of her husband Jim and her family. Ginny was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Betty Lou, Bev, Yvonne, and Patty, her nephew Denny, and her granddaughter Alana Kay. She is survived by her daughters Jennifer (Jared) Marshall and Carissa (Matt) Moorhouse, her stepchildren Michael (Jennifer) and Suzanne Johnson, her grandchildren Avery, Gabriel, Hailey, Ryan, Cali, Josie, Ty, Macey (Nick), Brennen, and Lauren, and her great-grandson Knight. She will be remembered for her strength, her love of the color purple, and the simple joys she found in family visits over coffee or ice cream. Ginny’s life was defined by unwavering loyalty, perseverance, and devoted service to those she loved.