Kenneth Leroy Johnson, 94

Born in Weiser, Idaho, to Kenneth and Arbie Johnson, Ken grew up in New Meadows, Idaho, along with his two younger brothers, Ronnie and Keith. He spent his early years on a fox farm in his grandmother’s boarding house, the Hartland Inn, and then at the home his father built next to the inn. Ken grew up fishing, hunting, working at his grandfather’s filling station and as a ranch hand. He learned to play the guitar, cartoon illustration and ran a radio station with friends in his early teens.

Ken planned to join his cousins, Tommy and Miles, as a Forest Service smokejumper until a horse he was shoeing gave him a swift kick to the shin. A plate was put in his leg, which would disqualify him from his dream. When he graduated high school, Ken worked with his uncle on a ferry on the Columbia River. In the summer of 1948, he met Ruth Erickson of Donnelly, Idaho. They had two dates before he joined the Navy and headed for Naval training at Lake Michigan. While there, he proposed marriage to Ruth in a letter. On Dec. 17, 1950, they married in New Meadows, Idaho, and boarded a train the next day for Newport, R.I. They would spend over 70 years together.

Ken loved Navy life, and the training he received as a ship’s radio operator, but he decided that long deployments were not conducive to his family life. He left the Navy after three years and moved the family, which now included his young son, David, to Payette, Idaho. Ken got a job as a TV repairman for Farber’s. Not long after Kristine was born, he was recruited by RCA to teach electronics in El Paso, Texas. Thus began a career in aerospace engineering during the pioneer days of space exploration. For the next 35 years, Ken and Ruth lived in El Paso, Texas; Coco Beach, Fla.; Denver, Colo.; Fort Morgan, Colo.; New Orleans, La.; Huntsville, Ala.; Brigham City, Utah; Lompoc, Calif., before retiring in Post Falls, Idaho, in 1990 to be near children and grandchildren.

Some unique skills that Ken passed along to his son and daughter were learning morse code, how to box and singing tunes like “Froggy Went a Courtin,” “I Wish I Were Single Again,” “Rye Whiskey,” “Rolly Polly,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” You can imagine how handy us kids found these skills. Ken loved storytelling, hearing and sharing a good joke, live music and theater. A man of faith, he loved family, friends and was happy with a life well lived.

The Lord called Ken gently home Oct. 4, 2024, leaving behind his son, David (Linda) Johnson; daughter Kristine (Jeff) Bell; grandchildren Jason (Bailey) Johnson, Jeremy (Leanne) Johnson, Jessica Bell; Alexandria Bell; great-grandchildren Garrett (Alexis) Johnson, Matthew (Kara) Johnson, Janaya Johnson, Sydney (Terrell) Dawson, Isaac Galavis; and great-great-grandchildren Levi and Isla Johnson; as well as cherished cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. Always loved. Forever in our hearts. 

Services for Ken will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 20 at Post Falls Community Presbyterian Church, located at 417 N. William St. A joint graveside service for Ken and Ruth will be May 17, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Meadows Valley Cemetery, Cemetery Road, New Meadows, Idaho.

Condolences to the family at www.englishfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements by English Funeral Chapel, Post Falls.