News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Becky Johnson was a fixture in the Camp Sherman community.
When Becky Johnson died at 93 last week, the weight of her legacy was felt across Oregon - but nowhere as acutely as in Camp Sherman.
As reported by the Associated Press, Johnson was a member of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education. She also served as director and vice president of the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, which was named for her late husband and based in Redmond. The organization contributes to arts and culture, education, health care, science and social service organizations.
But to Sisters area residents, she was a pioneer and a tireless advocate for the community values and the scenic treasures of Camp Sherman.
In fact, it was Johnson and her husband who ensured that the Head of the Metolius would remain a breathtaking visual gem for locals and visitors. As owners of the property, Becky and Sam Johnson worked with the forest service to create the first scenic easement managed by the agency, a deal that culminated in July of 1971 with a public dedication at the Head of the Metolius.
As many local folks have noted, that act alone would have ensured Johnson's legacy in Camp Sherman - but Becky Johnson was not one to sit back and rest on her laurels.
In 1981, "Becky and Sam donated some of the first funds and helped establish the resident deputy program in Camp Sherman," recalled Mark Foster, who knew Johnson for some 40 years. "If it wasn't for them, it never would have gotten off the ground."
Foster's wife Toni, who died last summer of cancer, worked closely with Johnson to defeat the infamous Little Buck Timber Sale, which was proposed in 1982.
"They were just going to cut all the big trees in the Metolius Basin - and you can imagine the response to that," Foster said.
The fight led to the establishment of what would become the Friends of the Metolius, a watchdog organization that to this day keeps a sharp eye on government or business interests that might have an impact on the basin.
"(Becky) and Toni were basically the founders of that organization," Foster said.
"For the community to lose Toni and Becky in 12 months - it's going to make a considerable impact," said Camp Sherman resident Kevin Adams. "There's going to have to be new torch bearers to pick it up and carry it on. They were instrumental in making Camp Sherman what it is."
Johnson was a school teacher in Michigan before coming to Oregon and retained a lifelong passion for education. That passion was evident in her ardent support of Black Butte School, which serves the children of Camp Sherman. It's a tiny school, but it has consistently produced big results, with finalists and champions representing the school at state and national history competitions.
Johnson was instrumental in fending off a move to consolidate small schools in the late 1990s - a move which would have spelled doom for Black Butte School.
"Becky appreciated the value and uniqueness of that educational experience," Adams said.
She accompanied a group of parents, teachers and students to the Capital in Salem to testify in defense of small schools.
"When she came up to testify, everybody dropped what they were doing and paid attention to her," John Sheldahl recalled.
Sheldahl first met Johnson when he came to Camp Sherman as its Postmaster in 1988.
"I was just the new guy," he said. "I'd just been appointed Postmaster here. I always felt comfortable walking up to her or sitting down next to her and talking to her."
Johnson indeed liked to talk and was not shy about sharing her opinion on a wide range of subjects.
"She was one of those dynamic people you're glad you knew," Adams said. "Becky had a passionate love for the Metolius Basin and put a lot of energy into preserving something that was very dear to her."
A public memorial service will be held for Becky Johnson at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, at the Middle Sister Room at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. Memorial contributions may be made to the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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