Grethe Helene Johnsen, born Middelthon (1915 – 19 May 2014) was a Norwegian organizational worker. She was born in Kalvøy outside of

Stavanger Stavanger (, , American English, US usually , ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the fourth largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the a ...

, and moved to the city at the age of twelve. She became active in the

Norwegian Red Cross The Norwegian Red Cross (''Norges Røde Kors'') was founded on 22 September 1865 by prime minister Frederik Stang. In 1895 the Norwegian Red Cross began educating nurses, and in 1907 the Norwegian Ministry of Defence authorized the organization fo ...

at an early age, and became its first female president in 1975. She was decorated with the

King's Medal of Merit in gold The King's Medal of Merit (Norwegian: ''Kongens fortjenstmedalje'') is a Norwegian award. It was instituted in 1908 to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art, science, business, and public service. It is divided in two classes: gold ...

in 1976 and the Order of St. Olav (Knight, First Class) in 1982, and received honorary membership in the Norwegian Red Cross in 1993. She survived her husband and one daughter, but still had two children when she died in May 2014.

References

1915 births 2014 deaths People from Stavanger Presidents of the Norwegian Red Cross Recipients of the King's Medal of Merit in gold 20th-century Norwegian women {{Norway-bio-stub