Howard A. Johnson, 90, a longtime resident of the Birdsview community, passed away at his home on Tuesday, October 14, 2008.
He was born on August 3, 1918 in Bellingham, Washington, the son of Paul & Elizabeth Beyers Dupenthaler.
He was raised in Bellingham until 1922 when his family moved to Hamilton and he attended grade school. After their home burned down in 1929 they returned to Bellingham where he attended school until the age of 15 when he began a long career in the timber industry working as a timber faller.
With the onset of WW II Howard served his country in the U.S. Army from 1942 thru 1946. After basic training he was stationed in the jungles of New Guinea in the South Pacific with the 32nd Division, 127th Infantry. From 1944 until his discharge in 1946 he was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.
On May 15, 1949 he was united in marriage to Lola Denny in Concrete and for the past 59 years they have made their home in Birdsview.
Howard worked in the woods for over 70 years and never had an accident. He didn’t see a power saw until he was in Australia during WW II.
Howard worked for both Lyman Timber and Scott Paper for many years, and never really did retire. He was actively logging with his grandson, Kellen until just days before his death. In the woods Howard was known as ‘The Snag King’ or ‘The Kid’ for many years.
When he wasn’t working in the woods, he still enjoyed being there. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, working in his vegetable garden and telling war and logging stories at his morning get togethers at the Baker Lake Grocery with his friends.
Howard is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lola, at the family home in Birdsview. His daughter and son-in-law, Christine & Frank Salseina of Birdsview. Seven grandchildren, Nathan, Kellen, Richard, Crystal, Jason Stephanie, Suzanne and Jerry and his six great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Dorothy Filbert and Jeanette Burnett both of Bellingham and a brother, Edward Johnson of Colville. Special friend and neighbor, Freeman Broom and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Elizabeth; his step-father, Harry Johnson; four sisters, Gertrude Everdell, Mildred Longeway, Phyllis Kruger and Arlene Watkins and a step-son, Gerald Johnson.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley.