Brett Douglas Johnson, 57

Brett Douglas Johnson, 57, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, at Kendall Memorial Hospital in Miami.

He was born on July 13, 1959, to Earl A. and Pauline M. Johnson in Great Falls. As a young boy, he became an Eagle Scout and attained the esteemed Order of the Arrow designation, completing two 50-mile hikes. He graduated from Charles M. Russell High School in Great Falls and went on to attend Ricks College and Columbia School of Broadcasting.

Brett gained an early appreciation for sports and had a love for the outdoors. He also loved music, throwing darts and playing crossword puzzles. Brett put his love of music to good use both on the radio and operating his own disco as DJ extraordinaire, Scotty O’Brien. He later became employed by Mountain Bell in Salt Lake City, where he also started a business selling and installing satellites and later cable TV in San Clemente, California. Brett seized an opportunity to relocate to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, branching out into another entrepreneurial adventure starting Bug-A-Boo Pest Control. A true lover of life, Brett played as hard as he worked and found paradise splitting his time between the beauty of the Caribbean and Montana. He learned to snorkel, scuba dive and developed a passion for sailing as well as all things nautical.

He became a Flathead legend as “Captain of the North Fork,” sharing his expertise in white water rafting and love for Glacier with so many. Brett had an enormous zest for life and impacted so many with his charm, charisma, infectious laugh, out of tune singing and big heart. He will be forever remembered by his dear parents; his siblings, Julie Woody, Janet Johnson, David Johnson (Patricia), Jeff Johnson, and Jennifer Johnson-Bell (Steve); and his many nieces and nephews that he adored including, Heather Johnson, Dillon DeChene, Spencer Johnson, and Matthew, Nicholas, Nicole and Andrea Woody.

Brett was preceded in death by his niece, Stacey Shane.

The Johnson family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Brett’s lifelong friends who loved him as they did.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kalispell.

In lieu of flowers, the Brett D. Johnson Memorial Fund has been established.