William Charles Johnson, 76

William Charles Johnson, 76, passed away on Jan. 1, 2018, Golden, Illinois.

Born in 1941 in Havre, Bill spent his grade school years in Chester. His father worked for the Great Northern and the family lived in a section house by the railroad. Like his father and grandfather, he carried a love of the railroad with him throughout life. In 1953 his parents Bill and Charlotte, moved with young Bill and his sister Charlene to Kalispell to join the rest of the Johnson clan. He graduated from Flathead High School with the Class of 1959.

Bill was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War and a devoted patriot. After returning from war, he moved to Seattle where he worked several years for the Boeing Company. His career then took him to the offices of Joy Manufacturing and Gardner Denver from where he retired in 2008. His job meant he had the chance to live in Denver, Memphis, Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. He enjoyed the history of each city and loved showing his family the “best of” when they came to visit. He made many lifelong friends at Gardner Denver. Roger and Diana Flesner of Golden, Illinois, were among them, and were a help and comfort to him as his health failed.

Bill is survived in Montana by his nieces Chris Herron, Colby Wood and family, and cousin Joseph Armstrong and family.

A memorial service and internment will be held in the spring.

Donations may be made in his name to the Charlotte Johnson memorial nursing scholarship at Flathead Valley Community College.

Please visit www.jgfuneralhome.com to leave condolences for the family. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.