LeRoy Leonard Johnson was born to Peter Joel Johnson and Alma Hazel Malm Johnson in Spencer, South Dakota on March 1, 1941, and peacefully passed from this life on February 12, 2024, at his home in Elmore City, Oklahoma.
The baby of twelve siblings, LeRoy grew up in the Mitchell, South Dakota area and graduated from Mitchell High School in 1960. He enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for four years, most of that time stationed in Japan.
On a blind date in California for New Year's Eve, LeRoy met Gracie Marie Tomlinson (Grace) from Maysville, Oklahoma. Fifty-one days later on February 21, 1964, LeRoy married Grace in Reno, Nevada. LeRoy and Grace then resided in California where they had their firstborn son, LeRoy Leonard Johnson, Jr. (Lee) on May 5, 1966. The family of three moved to the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, where LeRoy began working for Homer Freight Lines. On March 26, 1969, LeRoy and Grace's daughter, Leigh Lynnette Johnson, arrived with LeRoy serving as a nurse since the doctor was shorthanded.
LeRoy spent the majority of his working life on the North Slope where he moved oil rigs from land to sea, trucking across the frozen ocean. Over the years, the family of four made their home in Lodi, California, Butte and Summers, Montana, Soldotna and Sterling, Alaska, and Prague and Elmore City, Oklahoma.
In 1986, LeRoy retired, and he and Grace began to travel all over the United States, forty-nine states together. LeRoy had been to Hawaii during his time in the Navy and enjoyed teasing Grace that she had not made it to fifty. The couple made countless friends working at various campgrounds across the country.
LeRoy was a master pancake maker, people watcher, and dog lover that more recently had turned to taming wild cats. LeRoy enjoyed halibut and salmon fishing in Alaska, motorcycle and horseback riding, winning car shows and driving in parades with his antique car, woodworking (especially making crosses), and seeing his great-grands.
LeRoy Johnson is survived by his wife, Grace Johnson of the home; his son, Lee Johnson of Elmore City; his daughter, Leigh Gillham and husband, Kerry of Maysville; his two granddaughters, Madison Russ and husband, Ryan of Purcell, and Mackenzie Deviney and husband, Zane of Purcell; his great grandchildren, Rhettson Russ, Raider Russ, Baylor Deviney, and Bexley Deviney; his sister, Marcelle Johnson Wolf of Rapid City, South Dakota; and a host of beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.
LeRoy Johnson is preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Alma Johnson, his four brothers, Don Johnson, DeWayne Johnson, Dale Johnson and Devere Johnson and six sisters, Mae Johnson, June Zulk, Tillie Theiss, Arlene Johnson, Joyce Shuster, and Gladys Johnson.
Memorial services will be held at 1:30 pm on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Union Hill Baptist Church in Purcell, Oklahoma with Bro. Barry McConathy and Bro. Nate McConathy officiating. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com .