Lee H. Johnson, 74

Lee H. Johnson, 74, passed away on Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish. He was born on Dec. 18, 1929, in Conway, S.C., the son of Leo and Reba (Martin) Johnson.

Lee received his early education in Conway and continued in Charleston before joining the Navy at the age of 17. He was able to complete his GED and two years of college while on active duty.

Lee retired in 1965 and, after returning to North Carolina, went to work for Mosler Safe & Coin. He worked in Tennessee, Kentucky and California before retiring in Tennessee in 1982. He moved to Florida for five years before moving to Kalispell in 1987.

Lee met Nancy R. Hardgrove Ray in 1995 and the couple married on April 10, 1999, in Kalispell.

He enjoyed fishing, camping, coin collecting and NASCAR races.

Lee was preceded in death by his father; two brothers, William and Wendall; and two sisters, Letha Jones and Elizabeth Speers.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his mother, Reba Sanders, of Ridgeway, S.C.; three sons, Michael Johnson and wife, Nancy, of Hillsboro, Ore.; Matthew Johnson of Molalla, Ore.; and Mitchell Johnson and wife, Deann, of Auburn, Wash.; one daughter, Melissa Glad and husband, Joe, of Portland; five stepchildren, Laurie Severson of Dayton; Tammy Gossett, Robert Hardgrove and wife Katina, and Schrie Jones and husband Eric, all of Kalispell; and Boon Hardgrove of Columbia Falls. He is also survived by a brother, Al Sanders of Winnsboro, S.C.; a sister, Gail Derrick and husband, Jay, of Virginia; 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Lee Johnson will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Dan Wurster of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Urn burial will follow at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 West California St., Kalispell, MT 59901.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.