BOMBER MEMORIAL

DENNIS WILLIAM "DENNY" JOHNSON ~ Class of 1962 Honorary
April 25, 1942 - February 1, 2017



Dennis William Johnson, 73, went to heaven to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, due to complications related to cancer treatment. He was living in Las Vegas.

Dennis was born in 1942 in Seattle to Robert W. and Jane Johnson. The family moved in 1956 to Clarkston where he attended school, graduating from Clarkston High School in 1962. Following graduation, Dennis joined the U. S. Air Force where he served as a radar technician at the Strategic Air Command base in Minot, N.D. After his discharge he moved to Seattle where he met and married Sue Holliday. They had two sons, Robert and Michael.

Following a divorce, Dennis moved to Kodiak, Alaska and began working at a fish cannery in Kodiak. He eventually became part of the company's management team. It was there that he met Bodil Haarberg, the "rest of his life" partner. They were married in 1981 and their son, Kevin, was born in Kodiak in 1983. They returned to the Seattle area in 1986.

Dennis began working in the banking industry, eventually reaching the position of vice president. In 1999 Denny, Bo and Kevin moved to Las Vegas to escape the rain and see the sun. Dennis eventually left banking and became a very successful appraiser during the Las Vegas housing boom.

Denny was one of a kind. With his commanding voice and quick wit, he was somebody everyone remembered and many would become his good friends. His natural leadership and storytelling abilities always made him the "life of the party". A party could even be "dying" and Dennis would walk into the room and within 15 minutes it became the best place to be in town. His love and knowledge of cars was amazing. Dennis always had a "nice ride", while at the same time he would be busily working on two or three others. Anything that was mechanically complex, or just loud and fast, was of immediate interest to him.

He grew up in the '50s and '60s - a hot rod lover's dream period. Denny also had a phenomenal knowledge of aviation, earning his pilot's license while in Alaska. He continued flying up until the last few years. Another area of great enjoyment for Dennis was the time he spent on Facebook. He entertained hundreds of people from different generations and many different viewpoints with his wit, knowledge and warmth. There was a great outpouring of sadness among his many Facebook friends when they learned of his passing.

But nothing gave Dennis more joy in life than his grandchildren, Riese and Dane. He was known as Grandpa "Ha, Ha". He and Bo made many road trips up from Las Vegas to see their grandchildren. Dennis frequently continued on to Clarkston, where he would visit with his high school buddies. Bo was the love of Denny's life, and he truly thought of her as his "Angel". Of all the decisions he made in his life, Bo was the very best. Dennis and Bo were closest friends and shared a faith together that transformed both of their lives. They were married for 35 years.

Dennis is survived by a loving family. Rob and Mike (with wife Angie and their two children, Riese and Dane) live in the Seattle area. Kevin lives in Las Vegas, near his mother, Bo. Dennis' sister, Rita Johnson Tamerius ('64) lives in Berkeley, CA; one brother, Steven Johnson ('66) lives in Alameda, CA and his youngest brother, Jeff Johnson ('78) lives in Richland.

Denny leaves all of us rich in memories. He is dearly loved and greatly missed.

A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. on August 6, 2017, at Grace Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon, WA.

Published in the Lewiston Tribune on July 27, 2017.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).