William E. Johnson (Bill) passed away in his home at Maple Ridge Sunday evening, Dec. 18, 2011, with Audrey Hagstom at his side, his companion of 11 years.
Bill was born Aug. 2, 1920, to Elmer and Huldah Johnson in Soldier, Kan., and was the seventh of eight children. At the age of 14 Bill drove his parents and one sister to Plain, Wash., where he met Dorothy E. Blotz. Bill and Dorothy were married in Leavenworth on June 24, 1940. Bill worked on a large dairy farm in Plain, where they had three children before moving back to Kansas to work with Bill’s brother. Bill and Dorothy had two more children before leaving Kansas in the spring of 1949 to move to Whidbey Island, where they purchased a farm in Clinton. Their last two children were born on Whidbey Island.
Bill worked on both the farm and for the Washington State Ferries to support his wife and seven children. In the early 1960s he started a wood business delivering firewood, sawdust and shavings to all of Whidbey Island. After retiring from the Washington State Ferries he carried on the family business until the 1970’s.
In 1997 he lost his wife Dorothy of 57 years, and his youngest son Larry.
Bill is survived by three sons and three daughters: Gene (Charily) Johnson of Freeland, Duane Johnson of Bothell, Diane Widness of Everett, Fran (Wayne) Callen of Marysville, Jerry (Peggy) Johnson of Langley, and Dorothy (Rob) Mast of Clinton. He also leaves behind 21 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Audrey Hagstrom; she is an angel to us all and brought much happiness into Dad’s life and the rest of the family’s. She was indispensable in Dad’s care and helped us all through this journey.
We also want to thank Maple Ridge Assisted Living, the nurses at Whidbey General Health Care, Hospice and Island Home Nursing for the care they provided to Dad, as well as the support they gave to our family.
We would also like to thank all our friends and family for all the prayers, cards, flowers, support and love.
