Anita Jensen Johnson

On August 20, 2026, Anita Jensen Johnson passed away in her home in Piedmont, California. She was eighty-two.

Born on October 21, 1943, in San Bernardino, California, she lived most of her life in Berkeley and Piedmont. Anita’s parents were Dilworth Jensen and Doris Farr Jensen. Dill and Doris settled their family in Berkeley where they raised their four daughters, Diana, Anita, Patricia and Carol. Anita attended Cragmont Elementary where she was a classmate of her future husband, Harry Brockbank Johnson. They graduated from Cragmont together in January of 1955.

Anita attended the University of California, Berkeley, and in 1967 received her B.S. degree in zoology. She then taught science at a local high school and subsequently taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in Oakland and San Leandro. Anita was a compassionate teacher and made many friends with her students. She was genuinely interested in people; their experiences, their perspectives, and the stories that made each of them unique.

Anita and Harry started dating in the summer of 1968 just before Harry began his studies of law at UC Davis. On December 20, 1972, Anita and Harry were married in the Oakland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From that time on they were members of the Oakland First Ward LDS congregation.

Family was at the center of Anita’s life. She cherished being with the people she loved, not only for special occasions and celebrations, but in the ordinary moments that make up life.

Anita and Harry were blessed with two children, Jedediah Edward Jensen Johnson (Marie) and Sarah Jensen Johnson. Anita was a dedicated mother raising Jed and Sarah, encouraging both of them in their lower and higher education as well as their pursuits in life. She and Harry were also blessed with seven grandchildren: Stephen, Carina, Siena, Violet, Mirja, Isla (Jed & Marie) and Taj (Sarah). Anita delighted in each of her grandchildren and was proud of them all. She also delighted in deep meaningful relationships with several friends who were a significant part of her life.

Although Anita would be regarded as “quiet” by nature, to suggest that she didn’t have strong opinions would be a misnomer. She had strong convictions and was a determined advocate for people who were marginalized, ill-treated, or simply needed someone to stand beside them. She would listen without judgment and offer understanding and support without requiring anything in return.

Those who knew Anita well also knew she had a sense of humor. Beneath her quiet nature was a playful and sometimes mischievous wit. She could find humor in everyday situations.

Anita had an adventurous spirit at heart. One of her favorite pastimes was taking local car day trips. She loved exploring places she had never seen and returning to places that had become special to her. She was a good driver and could travel for sixteen hours or more without taking significant breaks. During Covid, she made several solo drives between Piedmont and Phoenix in a single day to visit her daughter and granddaughter.

Anita enjoyed traveling to Washington and Idaho to visit family. She and Harry took a number of day trips from Arimo, Idaho to the Tetons and Yellowstone. One of her favorite hikes was to Taggert Lake in the Tetons. She loved buffalo and admired them from a safe distance in Teton National Park. One of her favorite places was San Antonio Valley, a remote area east of Mount Hamilton. She first became acquainted with that valley as she would “sag” her husband and his friends on their annual sixty-mile bicycle ride from San Jose to Livermore. She was her husband’s best friend and fiercest advocate.

Anita played the piano and served in the Primary (children’s organization) of her LDS congregation as its pianist for many years. Always modest about her academic achievements, her scientific bent manifest itself in her astute passion for knowing how things worked. Anita loved animals and plants and was particularly fond of birds (for many years she enjoyed the company of several parrots) and a family Christmas cactus. Anita’s favorite food was chocolate. She loved chocolate confections and chocolate covered marzipan.

How does one sum up a life in an obituary? In Anita’s case you can’t. Suffice it to say she was “one of a kind,” and will be sorely missed.