The Wahkiakum County Eagle-November 6, 2008 
Palmer Arnold Johnson 

Palmer Arnold Johnson died on September 20, 2008 peacefully at home surrounded by 
loved ones. 

Palmer was born on March 14, 1919 in Astoria, Ore. to Norwegian immigrants Peter and 
Astrid Johnson. He was raised with his two siblings on Puget Island in Washington state. 
He moved to Southern California after high school. 

At age 22, Palmer met Norma Mae Steele, who would become his wife of 66 years. The 
two met on a blind date of roller skating and soon fell in love. They married on 
September 6, 1942 in Hollywood and made their home in Burbank, Calif. 

He served in the Army Air Corps in Central Burma, and participated in the China 
Offensive during World War II. His first child was 18 months old when he returned from 
the war and met her for the first time. 

After the war, they returned to Puget Island to raise their daughters Julie and Toni 
(deceased 1977). During the winter, he built fishing boats. During the summer, he fished 
for salmon in Alaska commercially in boats that he built. 

Palmer and Norma returned to South California in 1961, eventually settling in Ventura 
County. 

Church was a central part of his life. Palmer was a kind and giving person. He loved 
spending time with his family and adored playing with his grandchildren. He was a great 
dancer and loved dancing with his wife. He will be remembered for his great sense of 
humor. 

Palmer was a loving, sweet and wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-
grandfather. 

He will be greatly missed by his wife Norma; daughter, Julie Prince; son-in-law, David 
Prince; Grandchildren Wendy McDougall, Tammy Anthony and Chad Fey; and great-
grandchildren, Kaley, Ashlee, Samuel, Taylor and Caleb. 

Please hug a fisherman. Gather your carpentry tools and fix something. 

Please sign the guest book at obits.VenturaCountyStar.com

Unknown Burial-California
14 March 1919-20 September 2008
(As compiled by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society in May 2012.)