JOHNSON, Betty Kay

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Saturday, April 5, 2003 Betty Kay Johnson, 73, of Scottsdale, AZ, died Tuesday, April 1, 2003. Born to Mark & Rachel Higdon, Feb. 11, 1930 in Waterloo, Iowa. Raised in Des Moines, she graduated from Roosevelt H.S. in 1948 and Drake University in 1952 with a Degree in Music Ed. She married Dennis A. Johnson, taught elementary school in Emmetsburg, Iowa and later in Denver, Colorado, where she raised five sons. Betty moved to Arizona in 1969 and started the Friendly Visitor Program for the Scottsdale YWCA in the 70's. In 1981, she worked with Tempe's Community Action Agency; as manager of the Concord Senior Center, originated the meals & home delivery program. In 1989, she started the Scottsdale Senior Center's Friendly Visitor program and extended the home delivered meals program to South Scottsdale. Retired in 1995, she resumed her career as an Assistant to the Program Coordinator of the Senior Adult Program at Scottsdale Community College. She continued serving the seniors of Scottsdale until 2001, then volunteered at her son, Eric's school, The Scottsdale Foundation for the Handicapped. She is survived by sisters: Susanne Thomas of Kansas City, MO and Linda Wilde of Prescott, as well as her sons: Jeffery, Alan, Eric, Karl and Scott Johnson. Grandchildren include Rachel & Sarah Johnson and Jeremiah & Jacqueline Johnson, all of Phoenix. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 6, 2003 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Green Acres Mortuary, 401 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Scottsdale Foundation for the Handicapped, Inc., 7507 E. Osborn Rd., Scottsdale AZ 85251-6425. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.