Ralph W. Johnson, 79

Ralph W. Johnson, 79, died Dec. 22, 2009, at Colonial Manor in Whitefish. Mr. Johnson died after a long battle with cancer. Ralph Johnson was born July 3, 1930, in Livingston, to Ralph W. and Margaret Johnson. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart in October 1953. He served later in the U.S. Air Force and in the U.S. Army Reserve, from which he retired. He operated and maintained all types of heavy equipment, from tractors to semis, which he drove most all of his life. He operated in all types of the transportation industry, including logging, road construction and oil fields from Texas to North Dakota to Alaska. To him, rebuilding a diesel engine in a snowstorm was just another day, and he wouldn t quit until it was done and then head down the road. He retired in 1998. He was married to Patricia McCann in 1957 and had four children, Mitchell, Donna, Donald and Michael. They were divorced in 1966. He later married Loureine and brought four stepchildren, Joanne, Michael, Kenneth and William, into his family. He is survived by his sister, Ruth Cole, of Columbia Falls; daughter, Donna Brown, of Hungry Horse; sons, Mitch Johnson of Four Lakes, Wash., and Don Johnson of Parachute, Colo.; stepsons, Mike Nelson of Newport, Wash., and Bill Johnson of Spokane; and stepdaughter, Joanne Nelson, of Williston, N.D. He was preceded in death by his wife, Loureine Johnson; parents, Ralph W. Johnson and Margaret Johnson; brother, Bruce Johnson; and son, Michael Johnson. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. today, Dec. 30, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell, with a reception at 3 p.m. at the North Valley Eagles in Columbia Falls. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is assisting the family.