Familien utvandret til USA i 1901 og etternavnet ble der forandret fra Johansen til Johnsen.

Jim Willhite: Esther JOHNSEN was born on 13 May 1901 at Kilvær, Nordland, NOR. She immigrated in 1901 to Tacoma, WA, USA. She appeared on the 1910 census at Maury, King Co., WA. She appeared on the 1920 census at Seattle, King Co., WA. She married Fred William ERICKSON on 20 Apr 1925 and they had two children. She appeared on the 1930 census at Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Co., WA. She died on 23 Jan 2000 at WA at age 98.

    Esther recalled her growing-up years on the island as happy and interesting, involving outdoor fun as well as farm chores. Her first school years were in Dockton, but for high school she had to ride a boat across Quartermaster Harbor to attend class. During two high school summers, she worked as a maid in the mainland city of Tacoma. After Esther graduated from Vashon High school, she attended the University of Washington for a year, riding a launch to Tacoma, then a bus to the university, where she stayed with her sister, Hannah. She then transferred to Ellensburg Normal School, where after two years, she received her teaching certificate. She thought elementary school for two years in Dockton, with four class levels in a room. She got a teaching job at Fruitland, in eastern Washington. There she acted as principal for three small schools in the district. After three years of teaching she was awarded a lifetime teaching certificate. During the summer before going to Fruitand, she met Fred Erickson, and they were married in 1924. She never followed a teaching career after that. Fred and Esther made their first home in Tacoma.