1933
Roger
2019
Roger E Johnston
August 2, 1933 — August 19, 2019
Roger Eugene Johnston passed away on August 19th, 2019 at the age of 86. He was born on August 2nd, 1933 to Hannay and Iona Johnston in Kansas City, Missouri.
When Roger was about six years old, the family moved to Portland for work. His mother was one of the top welders in Oregon shipyards during World War II. After his parents divorced, his mother met Don Brinkerhoff and the family moved to Beaver, Utah when Roger was about 10 years old.
Small town life for Roger was spent cutting cedar posts and fishing with his stepdad. He hunted but not just for sport or fun, as it was often necessary to help feed his family. In high school, Roger participated in boxing, ran track, and played basketball and football. After 14 years of being an only child, his sister, Linda, was born.
Roger joined the Air Force in 1952. He trained to be an aircraft mechanic at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. In the military, Roger was assigned to a single plane. It was a a B-26 and it was his job to keep it flight ready at all times. He traveled with that plane and never forgot the plane’s serial number. He was an Airman 3rd class of the 90th Bomber Squadron, Para Dice. Roger was deployed to Korea in 1954 and was stationed at K-8 Air Force Base. He was leary of strange food, so he only ate peanut butter on toast with a bottle of Coke for every meal, every day for his entire stay. Roger was sent to Japan directly from Korea via the gunner seat of his B-26 with a book and a pillow. He traveled roughly 500 miles that way. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1956 and came home to Beaver, Utah in January.
He married Lois Ione Hansen in March, 1956. Roger and Lois settled in Salt Lake and Roger went to work for Frito Lay. In 1957, they moved to California so Roger could go to Northrop Aeronautical Institution in Los Angeles. While attending school, he worked at Los Angeles International Airport.
Their first daughter, Kathryn Marie, was born in September, 1958. Daniel Eugene, Roger’s first born son, arrived on April 21st 1960. In 1961, Roger and the family returned to Utah and he began driving a bus at City Lines bus company.
In 1963, Roger and Lois bought a house in Murray. It was a long commute to Salt Lake, so cousin Scott told Roger to apply at Hi-land Dairy. When Roger started at Hi-land, he only delivered to houses. Eventually he would deliver to restaurants and hospitals, which is how he met his friend, Jim. Robert Mark was born April 10th, 1964. Larry Michael showed up on May 1, 1969. Karen came along in December, 1974. After 30 years of working for Hi-land, he retired.
After 22 years, married life changed, and in 1978 Roger moved and started planning to build his own home in Taylorsville. Around 1982, he started building his own house with the help of his children. After many months of building, he moved in and lived there until the end.
Roger loved his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. He also loved dogs, ice cream, sports (especially college football), woodworking, and hustling pool – not necessarily in that order. He grew epic rose bushes and he was the only 70 year-old that could catch a cottontail with his bare hands.
Roger is survived by Daniel Johnston (son), Kathryn Marie Johnston (daughter), Larry and Taryna Johnston (son and wife), Karen Broadhead (daughter), Ben Johnston (grandson), Brandon and Kim Johnston (grandson and wife), Desi Bachman (granddaughter), Scarlett Smith (granddaughter), Lacey and Maxwell Molina (granddaughter and husband), Lance Helsten (grandson), Ryan and McKenzie Broadhead (grandson and wife), Jacob and Emilie Broadhead (grandson and wife), Karsen Broadhead (grandson), Ruby Johnston (great granddaughter), Liam (great grandson), and Austin Broadhead (great grandson).
He is preceded in death by his son, Mark Robert Johnston, and his grandsons, AJ Johnston and Austin Broadhead.
Funeral services will be held Saturday August 24th at 2 p.m. at Memorial Redwood Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road. A viewing will be held on Friday, August 23rd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday prior to the funeral from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m at Memorial Redwood Mortuary.Service Information
Viewing August 23, 2019 at 6:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah
Viewing August 24, 2019 at 1:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah
Funeral Service
August 24, 2019 at 2:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah
When Roger was about six years old, the family moved to Portland for work. His mother was one of the top welders in Oregon shipyards during World War II. After his parents divorced, his mother met Don Brinkerhoff and the family moved to Beaver, Utah when Roger was about 10 years old.
Small town life for Roger was spent cutting cedar posts and fishing with his stepdad. He hunted but not just for sport or fun, as it was often necessary to help feed his family. In high school, Roger participated in boxing, ran track, and played basketball and football. After 14 years of being an only child, his sister, Linda, was born.
Roger joined the Air Force in 1952. He trained to be an aircraft mechanic at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. In the military, Roger was assigned to a single plane. It was a a B-26 and it was his job to keep it flight ready at all times. He traveled with that plane and never forgot the plane’s serial number. He was an Airman 3rd class of the 90th Bomber Squadron, Para Dice. Roger was deployed to Korea in 1954 and was stationed at K-8 Air Force Base. He was leary of strange food, so he only ate peanut butter on toast with a bottle of Coke for every meal, every day for his entire stay. Roger was sent to Japan directly from Korea via the gunner seat of his B-26 with a book and a pillow. He traveled roughly 500 miles that way. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1956 and came home to Beaver, Utah in January.
He married Lois Ione Hansen in March, 1956. Roger and Lois settled in Salt Lake and Roger went to work for Frito Lay. In 1957, they moved to California so Roger could go to Northrop Aeronautical Institution in Los Angeles. While attending school, he worked at Los Angeles International Airport.
Their first daughter, Kathryn Marie, was born in September, 1958. Daniel Eugene, Roger’s first born son, arrived on April 21st 1960. In 1961, Roger and the family returned to Utah and he began driving a bus at City Lines bus company.
In 1963, Roger and Lois bought a house in Murray. It was a long commute to Salt Lake, so cousin Scott told Roger to apply at Hi-land Dairy. When Roger started at Hi-land, he only delivered to houses. Eventually he would deliver to restaurants and hospitals, which is how he met his friend, Jim. Robert Mark was born April 10th, 1964. Larry Michael showed up on May 1, 1969. Karen came along in December, 1974. After 30 years of working for Hi-land, he retired.
After 22 years, married life changed, and in 1978 Roger moved and started planning to build his own home in Taylorsville. Around 1982, he started building his own house with the help of his children. After many months of building, he moved in and lived there until the end.
Roger loved his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. He also loved dogs, ice cream, sports (especially college football), woodworking, and hustling pool – not necessarily in that order. He grew epic rose bushes and he was the only 70 year-old that could catch a cottontail with his bare hands.
Roger is survived by Daniel Johnston (son), Kathryn Marie Johnston (daughter), Larry and Taryna Johnston (son and wife), Karen Broadhead (daughter), Ben Johnston (grandson), Brandon and Kim Johnston (grandson and wife), Desi Bachman (granddaughter), Scarlett Smith (granddaughter), Lacey and Maxwell Molina (granddaughter and husband), Lance Helsten (grandson), Ryan and McKenzie Broadhead (grandson and wife), Jacob and Emilie Broadhead (grandson and wife), Karsen Broadhead (grandson), Ruby Johnston (great granddaughter), Liam (great grandson), and Austin Broadhead (great grandson).
He is preceded in death by his son, Mark Robert Johnston, and his grandsons, AJ Johnston and Austin Broadhead.
Funeral services will be held Saturday August 24th at 2 p.m. at Memorial Redwood Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road. A viewing will be held on Friday, August 23rd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday prior to the funeral from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m at Memorial Redwood Mortuary.Service Information
Viewing August 23, 2019 at 6:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah
Viewing August 24, 2019 at 1:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah
Funeral Service
August 24, 2019 at 2:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roger E Johnston, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 9
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors