Grace Lou Behling Johansen, 86, of Beach Lake, PA died Saturday, August 8, 2015 surrounded by her family.

She was born on July 16, 1929 at picturesque Peggy Runway Lodge, for years one of the finest resorts along the Delaware River. She was the surviving daughter of J. Frank and Ruth Annette Marold Behling. She was predeceased by her sisters Ruth Brock, Alma Evans, and Betsy Eilers.

She married R. Kenneth Johansen at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg on December 28, 1950. She is survived by (hold onto your hats!) her children: LouAnn and husband Thom Joyce of Beacon, NY; Roger Johansen and wife Julie of Little River, SC; Richard Johansen and wife Anne of Beach Lake, PA; Lauren and husband Roy Schlagenhaft of Beach Lake, PA; Lynn Ellen and husband Bob Costello of Beacon, NY; Russell Johansen and wife Kathy of White Sulpher Springs, NY; Rob Johansen and wife Jen of Indianapolis, IN.

Her grandchildren: Michael Joyce, Jacob Joyce, Zachary Joyce and wife Linda, Kenneth Joyce, Timothy Joyce, Joshua Johansen, Cassandra Johansen, Dustin Johansen and wife Jillian, Kerrie Johansen, Alyssa Johansen, Gregory Johansen and wife Allison, Erin Arndt and husband John, Sean Schlagenhaft and wife Erica, Katie Schlagenhaft, Devon Costello, Declan Costello, Finnian Costello, Jessica Lambert, Sommer Johansen and Leif Johansen. Her great-grandchildren: Maddox Schlagenhaft, Isabella Schlagenhaft, Calin Arndt, Mason Arndt, Lori Lynn Arndt, Emma Joyce, Jack Ford, Gray Ford and Katelyn Johansen.

She graduated from Wagner College in 1951 with a degree in Psychology. Her professional life included a management position at Sears, co-owner of ABC Books and an advertising manager of The River Reporter.

Grace was a respected, active member of the community throughout her life.

She had the inspiration, and was one of the founding members of the Tusten-Cochecton Library in Narrowsburg. Her passion for local history inspired her to found the Tusten Historical Society, of which she served as president for the past two decades. During that time she wrote and received numerous grants from Sullivan County Arts and Heritage to produce selected histories of local interest including “Tom Quick Trail,” “Narrowsburg Logging: an Historic History,” “Boarding Houses of Tusten Township,” and “The Era of Flying in Narrowsburg, New York.” She wrote the weekly column “Did You Know” for The River Reporter.

In years past Grace and husband Ken were known and loved for their leading roles in local community theater including “Oklahoma” and “South Pacific.”

She was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

She knew that she was blessed to be part of the Behling family, and we as her family know we were indeed blessed to have her as our mom, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be dearly missed. We love you, Mom.

A memorial service is planned in September, date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Tusten Historical Society, Tusten-Cochecton Library, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.