Donald L. Johnson (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Donald Lee Johnson was born November 19, 1931 in Lehi, Arizona to his parents, John Ellis Johnson and Emma Ann Simkins Johnson. He departed this earth on Monday, July 29, 2024 in Conway, Missouri. At the time of his passing he was ninety-two years, eight months and ten days of age.
Don spent his early years in Lehi, Arizona, Bakersfield, California and attended high school in Mesa, Arizona and attended school there. In his younger years he participated in youth rodeos, doing team roping. He was a cowboy on ranches in northern Arizona.
He joined the United States Navy during the Korean War as a radar man and was on two battleships, the USS Missouri and the USS Iowa. He was assigned to a tugboat, the USS Tawasa and they towed an atomic bomb out to sea during “Operation Wigwam”.
He met the love of his life, Betty Lou Phipps Cook in Lehi and the two were united in marriage March 7, 1953. They later sealed their marriage for time and eternity in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on October 17, 1964.
Donald and Betty had six wonderful children, Linda, David, Randy, Kathy, Anna and Susie. Donald loved his family so much and was very proud of all of them.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Betty Lou Johnson; two sons, David Johnson and Randy Johnson; a daughter, Kathy Johnson; and two grandsons, Cody Beisner and David Prokopec.
He is survived by his three loving daughters, Linda Flores and her husband Mike of Lebanon, Missouri, Anna Poundstone and her husband Jeff of Morris, Illinois and Susie Needham and her husband Yogi of Conway, Missouri; nine grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Anna Freeman of Longview, Texas.
He was an active, life-time member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He dedicated his life to serving the Lord and spreading the Gospel. He served in many callings throughout his life.
Donald spent many years working as a dairyman. He and his father, John, ran the LDS Church dairy in Chandler, Arizona for many years. He was trained in artificial insemination of cows.
The family moved around a lot, living in Gilbert and Florence, Arizona where he worked at cotton farming. Then the family moved to Tucson where he and his father ran the dairy farm for Shamrock Dairy, raising milk cows.
When their daughter, Kathy, became ill, the family moved back to Mesa. Donald opened a welding shop, “Lehi Welding”. He was very successful and created many fencing and wrought iron projects. He also welded many parts of farming equipment and grain bins.
After all the kids were married and out of the house, Donald and Betty left Mesa and checked out several locations. When they got tired of moving around, they decided to move to Missouri where Susie and Yogi were stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood. They served a mission at the Ft. Leonard Wood branch, working with young soldiers. They then served as ward missionaries, family history consultants and ward historians. Donald served in the bishopric, high priests group leadership and Sunday School presidency.
Donald was very active on his farm, raising chickens, cattle, a very large garden, grapes, apples, peaches and pear trees. He mowed his big yard every week and worked on tractors and lawnmowers until about a year ago when he and Betty moved in with Susie and Yogi in Conway, Missouri.
Donald was one of the most loving, gracious men you would ever meet and he leaves behind a beautiful legacy of family. He has been the patriarch of the Johnson family for many years and will be missed by his family and friends. What a joyous reunion he will have with Betty, his parents, his brothers and other family members. You have served your life with love, dignity, honesty and honor. Rest easy until we meet again, Dad.
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