Kenneth Robert Johnson

Kenneth Robert Johnson
March 22, 1929 – April 7th, 2017
Kenneth R. Johnson left this earth the afternoon of Friday April 7th, 2017. His journey of life began on the
farm of his parents, Robert and Violet Johnson, as the third child and first son, of a total of seven
children in Menahga, Minnesota. He was baptized at Bethany Lutheran Church on September 22, 1929
and confirmed there on July 11th, 1943.
Kenneth's parents separated when he was five years old; therefore, he and his siblings were passed on
to different homes and grew up without much contact between them. His eighth grade education was
obtained in a one room country school. Close to the same time as he started school, he also started his
life of hard work, by milking cows and driving a tractor during hay season of which he could barely see
over the steering wheel.
Ellen Arola became Kenneth's "love of his life" and they married on May 7th, 1950; and would have been
celebrating 67 years together this May. Their family included four children: Dwight, Dwayne, Eileen and
Tina. With no childhood or loving parents to care for him, Kenneth didn't know how to parent is own
children, though he loved them dearly.
The working world of Kenneth included:
 Driving trucks while mining in Hibbing and Virginia, Minnesota
 Dairy farm worker in Hockinson, Washington
 Driving truck for Pacific Meat Company in Portland, Oregon
 Plant Manager for Alcoa Recycling in Milwaukie, Oregon and Longview, Washington
In all the years and different occupations, Kenneth never missed even one day of work!
He was a hard worker retiring at 70 years of age. His hobbies included fishing, elk & deer hunting and
camping.
Kenneth is survived by his loving wife Ellen Johnson, 4 grown children, 12 grandchildren and 7
great-grandchildren