Susan Valerie Johnson (née Pringle) passed away July 30, 2023 after a battle with pancreatic cancer which she fought to the end. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined.
Susie is survived by her husband Ron, her children Aaron and Buffy, siblings Vicki Phillips (Gary), Kristy Klassen, Kathy Taylor (Earl), Gordie Pringle (Elaine), her mother-in-law, Yvonne Johnson, sister-in-law Randy Desjardine (Ken) and brother-in-law Wayne Johnson (Dianne), Uncle Val Pringle (Sandra), Aunt Diana Douglas, a great number of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, as well as her adopted grandchildren Roberta and Julian.
She is predeceased by her mother Georgie Pringle, Father Joe Pringle, infant daughter Marie, maternal grandparents George and Mabel Slater, father-in-law Sonny Johnson, Great Aunt Alma Carrington, brother-in-law Ron Klassen, brother-in-law Garry Oberst. Susie tragically lost her brother-in-law Malcom Taylor a week before her own passing.
Susie was born at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops on April 27, 1952. She grew up on the family farm in Westwold surrounded by a large family and tight knit community. Susie loved going to church and singing in the choir with her cousin and best friend Sharon Hagell (nee Hill). While attending Kam High, she met Ron, the love of her life, when he was playing at a dance in Heffley Creek. After graduation she started her working career at Peerless Printers in Kamloops.
Ron and Susie were married March 25, 1972 and started their lives together in their first home in Brocklehurst. In 1980 they bought a beautiful quarter section on Long Lake, south of Kamloops. Between working and raising a family, Ron and Susie spent five years building their dream log home. Many of their Knutsford neighbours, especially Ted Vayro and Celia Haig-Brown, became lifelong friends.
Susie was passionately involved in the Rose Hill Farmers Institute and the Double L 4H club. There were many a time that sheep were transported in the back of her station wagon-and they weren't the only ones: Susie did whatever she could to give her kids every opportunity and spent hours driving them to art, dance, guitar, modelling, riding and gymnastics classes, as well as bird shows and art exhibits.
After spending many wonderful years at Long Lake, Susie and Ron located back to Kamloops, and after a short time purchased property at Sabiston Lake. For over 30 years Sabiston Lake has been a family sanctuary for Ron, Susie, Aaron, and Buffy as well as their extended family.
Susie had a keen love for the outdoors and enjoyed hiking and bird watching. For many years she participated in the federal loon survey, and she and Ted Vayro were the first in the area to secure a permit to raise wild Canada Geese. It's hard to believe at one time we were trying to raise the numbers of Canada Geese!
Susie was a successful realtor for many years, starting her real estate career with Home Life Highland Realty and closing her career in a sales position at the Renaissance Retirement home. Home from work, she enjoyed sewing, gardening, home improvement projects and spending time with her family. One of her great joys was to read a thought-provoking book or watch a movie or play and then thoroughly discuss it.
She enjoyed all kinds of adventures, whether it was simply going for a drive or travelling internationally. Disneyland, Mexico, hiking into Lonesome Lake and camping trips to Barkerville and Bella Coola were some of her favourite trips. After their mother's passing in 1994 – Kristy and Susie travelled to England to research their family heritage and visit distant relatives.
