Donald Marlon Johnson, 76

On June 30, Don won his 20-year fight with cancer, during which he lived with his boundless measures of grace, enthusiasm, laughter and humility.

He researched and confronted his disease relentlessly and yielded only in the last few weeks in his own way, on his own terms, with his beloved Susanalice at his side.

Don was born to Irma and Maylon Johnson and grew up in Bozeman and Columbus.

After high school he served for three years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Upon returning to Montana, he fought forest fires for a time and then moved to Seattle, where he worked as a draftsman at Boeing. He subsequently joined the Peace Corps and worked for two years as a community development volunteer in the Bolivian jungle. When he returned to the United States, he began a formal education, earning an associate degree in Spanish from Fullerton College in California, a B.A. and M.A. from UCLA in Latin American studies, and a Ph.D. in education, also from UCLA.

Don was a member of the Bakersfield College faculty from 1973 to 1996, where he taught cultural anthropology, Chicano history and woodworking, as well as established outreach and support services for Vietnam veterans, unemployed adults, and students with disabilities.

Don was an extraordinary woodcarver of birds and animals. His beautiful and whimsical creations are the pride of many.

Don retired in 1997 and moved to Whitefish with his wife, Janet, who died in 2009.

Don is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Janet; and his sister, Dolores Overhuls.

He is survived by his partner, Susanalice Stanley; his brothers, Dave Johnson (Carol) and family, Jimmy Johnson and family, Gary Johnson (Carole); and his nieces and nephews, Randy Overhuls, Cindy Overhuls Groll, Marty Overhuls, Stacy Overhuls, Terry Overhuls, Sherry Overhuls, Rodney Overhuls, Marci Overhuls Gates, Kimberley Dawn Johnson and Byron Johnson.

A memorial hike will be held in Don’s honor in Glacier National Park on July 7.

“Don, you are missed beyond words and deeply loved by all whose lives you have touched.”