WILFRED R (BILL) JOHNSON
The chains of confusion, pain, and physical limitations were finally broken, and Bill was released into the loving arms of God on Saturday, June 1, 2024. He was in his heavenly seat to view the beautiful wedding of his youngest grandson on the same day.
Wilfred R. (Bill) Johnson was born October 27, 1940 in Kalispell, Montana to Wilfred E. Johnson and Emma Jean (Elsass) Johnson. He was raised on the 69 Ranch in Eureka, now the beautiful Indian Springs Golf community. The family later moved to the Valley Creek area in Arlee before returning to Eureka.
Bill attended Roosevelt Elementary School and graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1959. He attended Montana State College (University) in Bozeman graduating with an Agricultural Business degree in 1965. Bill enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1966, serving his full term in Vietnam being honorably discharged in 1969.
Hard work and agriculture brought him to work in that field his entire life. After his military service, he was employed at Peavey Company, Kona Ranch in Missoula and Equity Supply and Cenex Harvest States in Kalispell. He loved interaction with all the farmers, ranchers and daily customers. They all became part of his large "agriculture family." He retired from Cenex Harvest States in 2004 after more than thirty years of service.
Bill met the love of his life on a "blind date" and later married Marilyn Farris on January 9, 1971. From that fifty three years of marriage, they raised two children, Lisa and Kevin.
Bill served on the West Valley School Board, was President of Stillwater Grange, and State Treasurer, Executive Committeeman, and first "dude" of Montana State Grange. He was a member of West Valley Fire Department and Past President of the Montana State FFA Alumni Association.
Surviving are wife Marilyn, his daughter Lisa Johnson of Kalispell and grandchildren Kadin Johnson (Blayke), Alivia Johnson, and Caleb (Aly) Johnson all of Kalispell and one great Grandson Jace Robert Johnson.
He's also survived by special brother-in-law Harold (JoAnn)Farris, sister-in-law Roberta Figgins, and their families along with the family of deceased sister-in-law Pat Bjornstad.
Also surviving are Bill's siblings, George (Lauraine) of Camas Prairie; Bob of Lubbock, Texas; Don (Ruth) of Greenough; Sally Johnson and Mary Ann (Glen) Morin of Seeley Lake. Many nieces, nephews and cousins survive to remember Bill.
Greeting Bill with open heavenly arms are grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, in-laws Forest and Margaret Farris, sister-in-law Pat Bjornstad, and son Kevin Scott Johnson and nephew Brian Figgins.
Celebration of Life for Bill will be July 27, 2024.. at Hampton Inn Kalispell at 2:00 p.m.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilfred "Bill" Ray Johnson, please visit our flower store.
The chains of confusion, pain, and physical limitations were finally broken, and Bill was released into the loving arms of God on Saturday, June 1, 2024. He was in his heavenly seat to view the beautiful wedding of his youngest grandson on the same day.
Wilfred R. (Bill) Johnson was born October 27, 1940 in Kalispell, Montana to Wilfred E. Johnson and Emma Jean (Elsass) Johnson. He was raised on the 69 Ranch in Eureka, now the beautiful Indian Springs Golf community. The family later moved to the Valley Creek area in Arlee before returning to Eureka.
Bill attended Roosevelt Elementary School and graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1959. He attended Montana State College (University) in Bozeman graduating with an Agricultural Business degree in 1965. Bill enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1966, serving his full term in Vietnam being honorably discharged in 1969.
Hard work and agriculture brought him to work in that field his entire life. After his military service, he was employed at Peavey Company, Kona Ranch in Missoula and Equity Supply and Cenex Harvest States in Kalispell. He loved interaction with all the farmers, ranchers and daily customers. They all became part of his large "agriculture family." He retired from Cenex Harvest States in 2004 after more than thirty years of service.
Bill met the love of his life on a "blind date" and later married Marilyn Farris on January 9, 1971. From that fifty three years of marriage, they raised two children, Lisa and Kevin.
Bill served on the West Valley School Board, was President of Stillwater Grange, and State Treasurer, Executive Committeeman, and first "dude" of Montana State Grange. He was a member of West Valley Fire Department and Past President of the Montana State FFA Alumni Association.
Surviving are wife Marilyn, his daughter Lisa Johnson of Kalispell and grandchildren Kadin Johnson (Blayke), Alivia Johnson, and Caleb (Aly) Johnson all of Kalispell and one great Grandson Jace Robert Johnson.
He's also survived by special brother-in-law Harold (JoAnn)Farris, sister-in-law Roberta Figgins, and their families along with the family of deceased sister-in-law Pat Bjornstad.
Also surviving are Bill's siblings, George (Lauraine) of Camas Prairie; Bob of Lubbock, Texas; Don (Ruth) of Greenough; Sally Johnson and Mary Ann (Glen) Morin of Seeley Lake. Many nieces, nephews and cousins survive to remember Bill.
Greeting Bill with open heavenly arms are grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, in-laws Forest and Margaret Farris, sister-in-law Pat Bjornstad, and son Kevin Scott Johnson and nephew Brian Figgins.
Celebration of Life for Bill will be July 27, 2024.. at Hampton Inn Kalispell at 2:00 p.m.
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