Chester E. Johnson, 93

Chester E. Johnson, 93, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

He was born June 15, 1912, in the Swan River Valley near Echo Lake, the son of Joseph V. and Helen (Swim) Johnson.

Chester married Maxine Helseth April 1, 1931. She preceded him in death in 1987 after 56 years of marriage.

He worked for American Lumber and Slack Logging, working in the South Fork, North Fork and Swan Valley as a sawyer. He worked as a welder during World War II in the shipyards in Seattle. He also worked on the Libby and Hungry Horse dams.

Chester loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hunting in his younger years. He was a past member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and five sisters.

He is survived by three children, Sharon Huntley and husband, Bruce, of Columbia Falls, Arletta Burrows of Rifle, Colo., and Gerald Johnson of Kalispell; nine grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and one brother, Willis Johnson, of Roseburg, Ore.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Chester's family.