Deb Johnsen

Deb Johnsen is most definitely one of the sweetest women I know. The Johnsens were our "neighbors" (when you live in the country, anyone within a half-mile radius is your neighbor) from when I was 3 years old through sometime around middle school when they moved into a new home in Thompson. Her oldest son, Aaron, was babysat by my mother when he was in Kindergarten, and remained a good friend of mine throughout High School and beyond.

Her husband, Art, passed away after a long battle with cancer of the esophagus. Just 16 days before he passed, their family came in to the studio for a family portrait. It ended up being the last one that they had together:

I'll let Deb tell her story through the bio, but I'll just include a quick explanation of the significance of these photos:

This is where Art would sit, while he was at home for long days battling cancer. It was visible that one side of the sofa was used far more often than the other, as there is a slight depression in the cushion. Mickey, the dog, was trained by Art-- when Art would sit down to rest, he'd call Mickey over, and he'd jump up, turn around, and sit just like that. (Mickey is on Deb's left-- on her right is a stuffed toy that she bought that looks a lot like Mickey. This sat by Art's bed in the hospital room).

I love the saying on the plaque beside her. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain". She got this in Rochester, MN while Art was going through treatment. One of her friends, whose husband was also ill, bought the same one for her home.

The bedroom can be a difficult place after the passing of a loved one. Deb stacks the decorative pillows on Art's side when she goes to bed. Mickey wasn't allowed in their bed before, but after Art's passing, she's enjoyed his company at night. She lays out a towel for him when she goes to bed. He knows he's supposed to stay on it, but he usually sneaks over to cuddle up in the night.

They each had their own closet. Once in a while, Deb will go in there to look at his things. Sometimes, she likes to take one of his shirts out and wear it for a while.

You can see his name - "Art" - on this shirt.

Each morning, Art and Deb would have a cup of coffee and do a daily devotional together.

When they went back and forth to Mayo clinic, there were mounds of paperwork. She had a huge binder of daily schedules, bills, informational packets and more.

She remembers an unending number of pill bottles being stacked up on the counter during that time. There were so many to take every day. A few of them still remain in the cupboard...

Words of encouragement fill their home.

Deb's mother went through some of the same struggles as she is facing now. Deb's father passed away when she was 4 years old. This is a photo taken just before his passing-- the family had recently purchased that new car. This situation is mirrored in Deb's life, as she got a new vehicle also not long before Art passed away.

Art and Deb on their wedding day.

Art with his mother, Esther. She will be turning 100 in just a few weeks! Most of her memory is gone, and when Art passed, the doctors suggested that she not be told the news. She doesn't understand very much (or even recognize her own family usually) and they thought it might create an emotional frustration for her. When I was young, my mother used to visit Esther quite a bit, and I have many memories of her home from back then. I hope to go to her birthday party this month and to post some photos of her from that celebration.

The rings.

Now that Art is gone, and Jordan (the youngest of her children) is going to graduate in May, Deb decided it was time to make some adjustments. She will be moving to a townhome in Grand Forks soon, and I'll follow her with my camera through the process of packing with the help of her friends (who have been a HUGE support to her) and also in the process of adjusting to a new home and a very different life. I'm so encouraged by her strength, endurance, and faith.