Donald "Don" Jay Johnson

Donald J. “Don” Johnson, 85 years old, of Great Falls, Montana, passed away after a protracted ailment. Per his wishes, a small service was held for immediate family, and cremation has taken place.

Born in 1939 to Mort and Aileen Johnson in McPherson, Kansas, his family later moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he graduated from high school. He continued his higher education and earned a master’s degree in the industrial arts. He then taught junior high school “shop” classes for three years at Cecil B. DeMille Junior High School in Long Beach, California, and for thirty years at West, North, and East Junior High School in Great Falls, Montana. Summer breaks in California were spent cleaning swimming pools for the who’s who of Hollywood. During his summer breaks in Montana, he worked for the United States Forest Service in the Lewis and Clark National Forest. In 1969, he married his wife, Janice, and they raised two children—Kathy Jo and Jayson Lee.

Don was an exceptional SCUBA diver, craftsman, mechanic, coffee-drinker, draftsman, gardener, skier, musician, car guy, woodsman, lifeguard, mini-golfer, movie-goer, and teacher. He is survived by his wife; two children; and their families.

Cards may be addressed to O’Connor Funeral Home, c/o Mrs. Janice Johnson, 2425 8th Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401.