Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Gary N. Johnson

Gary N. Johnson, 62, of Potter, died at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the First English Lutheran Church in Kimball with Pastor Caryl Miller officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. to sign the register book and leave condolences for the family. Friends may visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Gary's Tribute Wall and leave condolences and stories for the family. Memorials may be given in Gary's memory to the Gary Johnson memorial fund at Firstier Bank, this fund will be used to support the youth in a variety of different activities. The services for Gary have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Gary Norman Johnson was born in Kimball on April 19, 1956, the son of Norman and Betty (Oeltjen) Johnson. He was raised and attended school in Banner County. He graduated from the Banner County High School in 1974. He was married to Kim Killham at the Dix Bible Church on August 9, 1975 and to this union Brent, Ryan and Kyle were born. He worked with his father and grandfather on the family farm. In 1985 Gary and Kim started Johnson Farms which he continued to operate with his boys until the time of his retirement in 2016. He served on many boards throughout his life, including High Plains Co-op Board Director, First Lutheran Church Board Director, Kirk Cemetery Board, Banner County Zoning Board, the Doan College Parents Board Director and the Nebraska State Wheat Board who selected Gary to attend a trip to Portland, Oregon. He enjoyed basketball and played on men's league for 13 years at the YMCA. He coached his sons in the town team league and was active in the sports in some way for over 10 years. He also coached his sons in a variety of other activities such as Odyssey of the Mind. He loved his family and always supported his children and grandchildren in their activities. You could always find him on the sidelines, next to the mat, or in the stands at every event his grandchildren participated in. He enjoyed taking his family to Estes Park and spending time with them.

Survivors include his sons Brent (Suzie) Johnson of St. Louis Park, MN and their children Mellissa and Amaya, Ryan (Tiffany) Johnson of Dix, NE and their children Trajan and Chance, Kyle (Laura) Johnson of Kimball, NE and their children Raven and Matthew; sister Wanda (Brett) Whartman and family of Sidney, NE; Aunt Phyllis Oeltjen and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Brianna Marie and his grandparents.