Leigh Johnson

Leigh Johnson passed away peacefully on March 23, 2018, at the age of 83.

Leigh was born in Big Timber, Montana, on April 4, 1934, to parents David “Tokey” Johnson and Lillian (Nepstad) Johnson. His family ran a sheep ranch near Melville, Montana, that was framed by the beautiful Crazy Mountain Range.

Leigh was the youngest of three siblings, his sister was Helen (Langston) Johnson, and his brother was Dave Johnson, both of whom preceded Leigh in death. The ranch was filled with sheep, ponies, cattle and also ranch hands that became good friends. To get to school from the ranch, Leigh would drive other ranch kids, even though he was only 10 or 11 years old. He would sit on a pile of magazines to see over the dash, then slide down in order to shift gears. Somehow, they got to school just fine.

Leigh attended Shattuck Military Academy in Fairbault, Minnesota, for his high school years. For college, Leigh earned his bachelor’s degree at Montana State University in Bozeman. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and he graduated in 1957. In those years, Leigh and his brother Dave loved to fly their small airplane around Montana and beyond. As impulsive young men, they would at times run low on petrol and be forced to land in a field, or barely make it back home with only fumes in the tank!

Leigh met his first love, Kae Delphia “Molly” Keenan at college, and they were happily married on Sept. 1, 1959. They moved to Spokane where Molly’s father, Earl Keenan, taught Leigh the family business at the Spokane News. In 1963, Molly and Leigh purchased the Kalispell News Agency and relocated with their two young daughters, Kimberley (Johnson) Tomlinson and Melanye (Johnson) Levin. The Kalispell News Agency distributed magazines and paperback books to all the local retailers, from Polson to Browning, including summer deliveries to the gift shops in Glacier Park. Leigh would often make the “Park Run” and his daughters remember well how beautiful that drive was, although their father often was nodding off at the wheel! Leigh worked hard his whole life, and somehow the angels kept him safe during those harrowing rides up the Going-to-the-Sun Highway.

The Kalispell News Agency was in business for over 30 years and closed in 1995. Almost everyone from Leigh’s family and friends worked there at one time or another.

An active community member, Leigh was a Master Mason with the Kalispell Masonic Lodge from 1969-1979.

After losing Molly in 1984, Leigh was lucky enough to meet a second love of his life, Joan (Keech) Johnson. Leigh and Joan were married in 1984, and were always busy running the family business and traveling to explore Europe, Russia and many other destinations. They built a beautiful home on Flathead Lake where the family loved to gather. In their elder years, they moved back to Kalispell.

Leigh leaves behind a caring family and many friends who will miss him greatly. He was a wonderful person, always willing to lend a hand and always positive and optimistic.

The surviving family are Leigh’s wife Joan (Keech) Johnson, his daughters, Kim (Johnson) Tomlinson, Linda (Frank) Kahil (husband Roger Kahil) and Melanye (Johnson) Levin. The surviving grandchildren are Shannon (Tomlinson) Fraleigh, Ashley (Tomlinson) LeBeau (husband Dave LeBeau), Keith Tomlinson, Adrian Tomlinson, Taran Tomlinson, Henry Kahil, Mary Kahil, Michel Kahil, Zuni Levin, Osho Levin, and April Levin. Leigh’s surviving great-grandchildren are Beau Fraleigh, Savannah Fraleigh, Isabella Fraleigh, Max Fraleigh, MacKenzie LeBeau, Brayden LeBeau, Danielle Tomlinson, Kyla Tomlinson, Jillian Tomlinson, and Cody Kahil.

Leigh loved the Flathead Valley, where he resided for 55 years. Joan and Leigh enjoyed sailing on Flathead Lake, attending Glacier Chorale concerts and having dinner at Charlie’s.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Glacier Symphony & Chorale or to the charity of your choice.

Leigh did not wish for a memorial service, however family and friends plan to gather at Flathead Lake this summer to commemorate his life.