Elisabeth Johnson, 86

MILLS RIVER — Elisabeth Johnson, 86, a retired nurse educator, died of cancer on Friday, May 18, 2012 at her home.

Born, Elisabeth Hintermeister in Brooklyn, NY, she attended Wagner College, graduating in 1948 with a degree in nursing. Soon thereafter, she married a college classmate, Laroy Dietrich, who later became a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Miami. She interrupted her nursing career to raise three sons and resumed it when the youngest started school. Later she joined the faculty of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Nursing School in Miami where she taught until retirement.

After the death of Dr. Dietrich, she married William Johnson, Jr., an electrical engineer, in 1979. They purchased property in Henderson County in 1995, eventually building a house and relocating permanently. Mr. Johnson passed away in 2000. She was an active parishioner at Mills River Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by three sons, Richard Dietrich, a physician residing in Maryland, David Dietrich, a photographer residing in Henderson County, and Mark Dietrich, a Human Resource Manager residing in Michigan and two step-children, William Johnson, III, a CNC technician, and Elizabeth DeBolt, a musician and Health Store manager, both residing in Florida, plus numerous grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 25, 2012, at Mills River Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Randal Boggs officiating. Burial will take place at a later date in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2012, at the funeral home.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.