BIOGRAPHY

Johnson was born as Birdie Elizabeth Kingsley in Mansfield, South Dakota on 9 November 1906. She was the granddaughter of English immigrants who journeyed to the state from New York, during the aftermath of the American Civil War. She grew up on a farm as the youngest of six children.

In 1926 Johnson, after marrying her husband Theodore “Ted” Johnson, left South Dakota. The couple settled in Oregon in 1937. She worked sorting pears to support her four children, Donald, Roland, Bonnie, and Theola. Her lifelong hobbies included Scrabble, playing the piano, writing poetry, and producing oil paintings. She would also enjoy Bingo even as a supercentenarian.

Johnson was widowed in 1988. In her later years, she did not take any medication besides eye drops. She moved into a nursing home aged 106.

Johnson died on 15 May 2017 at the age of 110 years, 187 days. She was survived by her four octogenarian children, as well as 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Following the 10 March 2016 death of 109-year-old Melanie Dickie, Johnson became Oregon’s oldest resident. Upon her own death, she was succeeded by an anonymous woman.

Johnson’s age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Jimmy Lindberg, and was validated by LongeviQuest on 11 April 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY