GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Tuesday, June
13, 2006
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Johnson,
Neil E.
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 HARLEM - Neil E. Johnson,
82, former printer and publisher of the Chinook Opinion and Harlem News, died
of congestive heart failure Saturday at his home in Harlem.
Graveside services with military
honors are 2 p.m. Thursday in Harlem
Cemetery, followed by a gathering
for family and friends at the VFW Club in Harlem.
Edwards Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife of 58
years, Maxine Johnson; children Rick (Kathy) Johnson of Harlem, Rhonda (Jim)
Brewer of Zurich and Nick (Darla) of Dodson; siblings Emma Taylor, Jack
Johnson, Jeri (Earl) Bahr and Keelah McKay, all of
Chinook, and Dona Doughten of Aurora, Colo.; nine
grandchildren and 10 great-granchildren; and
numerous nieces and nephews.
Neil passed away of congestive
heart failure at his home June 10, 2006, with his family present.
Neil was born in Cavalier, N.D., on
June 13, 1923, the oldest of six children born to Theodore R. and Thelma
(Abel) Johnson. When he was 12, the Johnson family moved to Chinook, where he
was a member of the Chinook Presbyterian Church and graduated from Chinook High School in 1942.
After graduation, he hitchhiked to Tacoma, Wash.,
to work in the shipyards, but came back home to enlist in the Army in March
of 1943. Neil served from March 3, 1943, to Nov. 30, 1945, in the U.S. Army. He
was a tech 5 lineman with the 337th ENGR Combat BN, serving in numerous
campaigns; European, African, Middle Eastern Naples-Foggia, Rome
Arno, North Appennines, PO Valley, and was en route
to the Philippines
when the war ended. Neil received the European African MidEastern
Service Medal, Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, Victory Medal and
Good Conduct Medal. Following the war, Neil returned to Chinook and went to
work at the Opinion with his folks.
He married Maxine Conrad on Nov. 2,
1947. They then moved to Minneapolis,
Minn., where Neil graduated
from the Dunwood Institute for Offset Printing.
Neil and Max returned to run the Harlem News in 1950 and have lived in Harlem since January of 1951. Neil traveled back and
forth to Chinook to work both papers while Max kept the Harlem
News going. The newspapers were sold in 1984, but he kept working until he
retired in 1997.
Neil was a member of the Chinook
Company M National Guard for three years before the war and three years
after. He was a Charter Member of Chinook VFW Post 4620 and lifetime member
of Snake Butte
VFW Post 4744. His camaraderie with his bowling team of many years was near
and dear to his heart. These friendships carried Neil and Max throughout
their life together. Neil enjoyed keeping score for 20-some years for the Harlem Wildcats, his river trips, camping, fishing,
bowling, hunting, golfing, photography, his greenhouse, and taking care of
his beautiful yard.
He was preceded in death by his
father, Ted Johnson, and mother Thelma Abel Johnson; an infant daughter,
Sheila M. Johnson; and 15-year-old daughter Jennifer A. Johnson in 1988.
"The press has grown quiet
As the ink became dry
It took 52 years for Neil to retire
The news had been printed, with pictures galore.
Until he picked up his jacket and walked out the door.
His interest then turned to the gardening game
He started each morning exactly the same
With coffee in hand, worn hat on his head
He'd look to the heavens, checking for rain.
The flowers and veggies were shared by the town.
His years as a gardener were really renown."
- Mary O'Bryan
Condolences may be sent online to www.greatfallstribune.com/obituaries.
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HAVRE DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
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NEIL JOHNSON
HARLEM - Neil E. Johnson, 82, of Harlem, former printerand
publisher of the Chinook
Opinion and Harlem
News, died of congestive heart failure at his home
Saturday, June 10, 2006, with his family present.
At Neils request, graveside services with military honors will be held
at 2 p.m. Thursday
at the Harlem Cemetery.
Following the service, family and friends are invited to refreshments at the Harlem VFW Club.
Neil was born in Cavalier, N.D., on June 13, 1923, to Theodore R. and
Thelma (Abel) Johnson.
The Johnson family moved to Chinook when Neil was 12. He was a member of
the Chinook Presbyterian Church.
Neil graduated from Chinook
High School in 1942.
After graduation, he hitchhiked to Tacoma, Wash., to work in the
shipyards, but came back home to enlist in the Army in March of 1943.
Neil served from March 3, 1943, to Nov. 30, 1945, in the U.S. Army. He
was a tech 5 lineman with the 337th ENGR Combat BN, serving in five campaigns:
European, African, Middle Eastern Naples- Foggia, Rome
Arno, North Appennines and PO
Valley. He was en route to the Philippines
when the war ended. Neil received the European African MidEastern Service Medal, Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific
Service Medal, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
Following the war, Neil returned to
Chinook and went to work at the Opinion with his folks.
He married Maxine Conrad on Nov.
2, 1947. They then moved to Minneapolis,
where Neil graduated from the Dunwood Institute for
Offset Printing. Neil and Max returned to run the
Harlem News in 1950 and have lived
in Harlem since January of 1951. Neil traveled
back and forth to Chinook to work both papers, while Max kept the Harlem News going. The newspapers were sold in 1984, but Neil
kept working until he retired in 1997.
Neil was a member of the Chinook Company M National
Guards for three years before the war and three years after. He was a
charter member of Chinook VJW Post 4620 and lifetime member of Snake Butte VFW Post 4744. His
camaraderie with his bowling team of many years was near and dear to his heart.
These friendships carried Neil and Max throughout their life together. Neil
enjoyed keeping score for 20 some years for the Harlem Wildcats, his river
trips, camping, fishing, bowling, hunting, golfing, photography, his
greenhouse, and taking care of his beautiful yard.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ted Johnson, and mother, Thelma
(Abel) Johnson;
infant daughter, Sheila M. Johnson; and
15-year-old daughter, Jennifer A. Johnson, in 1988.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Maxine Johnson; children, Rick
(Kathy) Johnson of
Harlem, Rhonda (Jim) Brewer of Zurich and Nick (Darla)
of Dodson; siblings, Emma Taylor
of Chinook, Jack Johnson of Chinook,
Dona Doughten of Aurora, Colo.,
Jeri (Earl) Bahr
of Chinook and Keelah
McKay of Chinook; nine grandchildren; 10great-granchildren; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
Edwards Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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