Donald Roy Johnson, 90, of Laramie died Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Ivinson Memorial Hospital.
Donald was born December 6, 1929, to Fredrick and Velma (Newlon) Johnson in Burns, WY. He married Lonna Smith on January 26, 1951 and they had four children.
Donald served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Afterwards, he and Lonna moved to Laramie in 1955 where he began to ranch and later went on to work and retire from the Laramie Fire Department. During his downtime, he loved to fish and hunt and was a board member for the Eppson Center for Seniors.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lonna; and his son John.
He is survived by his children, Sue Watson, Lorra Cotton, and Lon Johnson; eleven grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and several great-great grandchildren.
Donald will be buried along-side with his wife in a family plot in Albin, WY.
24 Comments To "Donald Roy Johnson"
#1 Comment By Debbie Pickett On August 25, 2020 @ 11:41 am
I am so sorry to read that Don passed. I always enjoyed our visits when he either came in to the bank, , the Courthouse or when I would run into him around town. I had always planned on going to visit him when Spring Wind reopened. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
#2 Comment By Anonymous On August 27, 2020 @ 4:48 pm
Thank you Debbie. We have known each other a lot of years. Thanks for being some one he enjoyed seeming
#3 Comment By Lynn Broughton On August 26, 2020 @ 10:10 am
I am sad to read that Don passed but I saw him everyday at Springwind and I knew he was not doing well. My Mom passed the next day at Springwind. Don was the person that would hay our fields on Pierce Street. Don and I became friends and I always enjoyed our chats when he would come to hay. He had so much energy and a wonderful sense of humor. That was about 25 years ago. I want to extend my empathy and sympathy to Don’s entire family. He was a wonderful friend. Hopefully he will meet my Mom (Gloria Mae Moore) in heaven and have a good chat with her about the old days. Most sincerely, Lynn Broughton
#4 Comment By Anonymous On August 27, 2020 @ 4:46 pm
Thank you. I am sorry I didn’t get to know many residents when I visited him.
#5 Comment By Dicksie Knight May On August 26, 2020 @ 10:49 am
Don was such a great person that I so enjoyed talking to at the Eppson Center. His stories about ranching and his military years were very interesting. I’ve included all I’ve collected about his military and ranch years in the Ranch History Project Files. They eventually will be stored at the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming.
#6 Comment By Anonymous On August 27, 2020 @ 4:44 pm
Thank you. He so enjoyed taking us for lunch at the “wrinkle farm” as he called it. Everyone was so nice.
#7 Comment By Steve & Joann Sencabaugh On August 26, 2020 @ 3:36 pm
Sorry to hear about Don’s passing ! He was a very humble gentleman and always had a great story to tell. Happy to have met such a fine gentleman ! Our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to his great family .
#8 Comment By Anonymous On September 3, 2020 @ 12:19 pm
Than you got your prayers
#9 Comment By Roland Peterson On August 28, 2020 @ 7:56 am
Lorra, so sorry for your loss. I remember meeting your parents circa 1994 along with Ed Fiedor. It’s my loss, too.
#10 Comment By Lorra On September 3, 2020 @ 9:57 am
Thanks for your kindness Roland
#11 Comment By Laramie Fire Department On September 1, 2020 @ 6:48 am
Everyone here at the Laramie Fire Department send our condolences to Don’s family! Once part of the LFD family…always a part of the LFD family! We thank him for his service to Albany County and the City of Laramie! May he rest in peace!
#12 Comment By Anonymous On September 3, 2020 @ 12:17 pm
Dad was a fireman always at heart.
#13 Comment By Mike Chesnut On September 1, 2020 @ 8:50 am
Don will be very muched missed by Cristina and I. We loved him very much and he meant a lot to my recovery. He will be missed by all of us. Cristina and Mike Chesnut and all of the Chesnut Family.
#14 Comment By Anonymous On September 3, 2020 @ 12:17 pm
Thank you.
#15 Comment By Anonymous On September 1, 2020 @ 10:46 am
I am very sorry for your loss. I worked with Don for a number of years and always admired him. He will be missed. Our prayers are with you.
Larry and Evelyn Bonger
#16 Comment By Sue On September 13, 2020 @ 9:25 am
Thank you
#17 Comment By Sue (Johnson) Watson On September 13, 2020 @ 9:26 am
Thank you
#18 Comment By Kathy Klein On September 2, 2020 @ 7:31 am
Grew up knowing Lonna and Don. Loved to visit with them and in their later years taking care of them. Lonna always made the best cinnamon rolls and Don the big smile and a good conversation. Truly Don was a great man and will be missed.
#19 Comment By Sue On September 4, 2020 @ 7:46 pm
Kathy, thank you for everything you did for dad and mom.
#20 Comment By Kay Hoch On September 3, 2020 @ 11:49 am
What a great guy! He was so proud of his friendship and fishing escapades with Joe Pickett. He will be missed by all who knew him.
#21 Comment By Anonymous On September 3, 2020 @ 12:14 pm
Thank you
#22 Comment By Charlotte Wallace Byram On September 9, 2020 @ 2:56 pm
I was sorry to read that Mr. Johnson had passed. He moved into Springwind not long after my mother, Rosemarie Wallace, moved in. I remember showing him the pool table and he was looking forward to playing. I sat next to him late February at Happy Hour…he was enjoying it. Sadly, my mother passed in June and we have lost touch with our Springwind friends. He led a very fulfilling life.
#23 Comment By Sue (Johnson) Watson On September 13, 2020 @ 9:26 am
Thank you
#24 Comment By Anonymous On September 21, 2020 @ 4:31 pm
I am so sorry I am sending this so late. I was saddened to see Don passed. So glad I got to know him (and Lonna). He was so pleasant to talk to. He would come into my work place and we would talk about ranching, haying, you name it. Lonna was in my Secret Pal group and was such a joy. I miss them both. With my Sympathy, Nancy Kern