Franklin Johnson

Franklin “Frank” Dale Johnson 11/29/1941-3/31/2015
Frank was born in Miles City, MT to William “Bill” and Myrtle Johnson on 11/29/1941, eight days before Pearl Harbor. He grew up there and graduated from Custer County High School.
After graduation he worked for Regal Signs making neon signs, and then for the Miles City Star as a Pressman. He married Bonnie Faye White November of 1963 in Townsend, MT, and they moved to Jordan, MT where he worked as an auto body worker. Their first daughter, Brenda, was born in December of 1964.
In 1967 Frank and Bonnie moved to Forsyth where he worked for Rosebud County doing road maintenance.
In 1968 they moved to Farmington, New Mexico – there Frank worked as a pressman for the Daily Times. Their second daughter, Penny, was born in March of 1969.
In 1974 Frank and Bonnie divorced, but the greatest gift they gave to their children is that they remained lifelong friends.
Frank moved back to Miles City, MT where he continued his newspaper career for the Miles City Star doing commercial ad layout. In 1975 he married his younger sister’s best friend, Carolyn “Cooky” Emerson. With this union he adopted his “bonus” child, son Douglas Roger Johnson.
They moved to Forsyth in 1976 where they managed the Wagon Wheel Campground, and Frank worked for Kent Auto Body doing body work for 3 years. He then went to work for the City of Forsyth as a heavy equipment operator. He retired in 1993.
In 1999, Frank moved to Townsend, MT to be closer to his daughters and grandchildren.
Frank was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and a strong creative spirit. He had a gentle, friendly nature and made friends wherever he went. “He never met a stranger”.
His greatest loves were his children, grandchildren, animals (especially black labs), motorcycles, and Stephen King novels. He was a prolific reader and old movie buff. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. His art was always a part of his life and throughout the years he created many beautiful paintings, knives and wooden toys.
Survived by his sister Donna Tebeau; daughters Brenda Miller, and Penny (Larry) Uylaki; son Doug (Cherry) Johnson; grandchildren: Melissa, Kyle, and Erika Miller, Alan, Austin, Andrew Arden, Ashton Johnson, and Taylor and Jayden Johnson, and his two ex-wives and lifelong friends Bonnie Merritt and Carolyn Hays.
A wonderful man is lost to our world, but heaven is richer for his addition. Rest in peace Dad.

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