William Lawrence Johnson

William (Bill) Lawrence Johnson

SOUTH OGDEN - William (Bill) Lawrence Johnson passed away on January 4, 2007 at Emeritus Estates at the age of 84. He was born on December 5, 1922 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lawrence and Faye Johnson.

Bill graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. degree in geology and worked in a variety of mining related jobs in several states. He started his career as a mining engineer in Leadville, Colorado and finished as Director of Minerals for the U.S. Forest Service in Ogden, Utah. He retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1984 after 30 years of federal service.

Bill was in the U.S. Army from April 1943 to December 1945. He served overseas during WW II in the Philippines and New Guinea. As a military engineer his primary duty was building and maintaining airstrips. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and a WW II Victory Medal.

He met and married his wife Gloria A. Gulden in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 8, 1947. They were married for almost 60 years. They had three sons; Jeff (Ogden), Scott (Juneau, AK), and Brett (Moab, UT).

He enjoyed fishing, golf, and traveling. He and his wife especially enjoyed traveling by cruise ship visiting destinations such as the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii. They also traveled to Europe twice. Bill enjoyed fishing each summer in Alaska in the Golden North Salmon Derby (Juneau) where he placed in the "Top 100" twice. He also led his son's Boy Scout Troops on several 50 mile hikes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Some of his favorite road trips from Ogden were Sun Valley, Idaho, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Bandon-by-the-Sea, Oregon.

His beloved wife Gloria survives Bill, two sisters Maryjean Caldwell and FayeAnne Jacobs. His sons and their wives; Jeff (Karen), Scott (Donna) and Brett (Jackie) Johnson. Granddaughters are Mandi and Amber Johnson, Juneau, AK. Step-grandchildren Cori Murray, Cody Smith and Joe Liberty. Step great-grandchildren Jaycie and Kaylin Smith, Tyler Nagel, and Taylor Murray.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Emeritus Estates and Susan, Mickie, Tyler and Miller of Alpine Hospice for their kindness, patience, and numerous hours spent making Bill comfortable.

A family memorial will be held in Juneau, Alaska, as per Bill's wishes. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Bill's name, 845 East 4800 South Ste120, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107.
Funeral directors, Myers Roy Mortuary.
Funeral HomeMyers Mortuary - Roy
5865 South 1900 West
Roy, UT 84067