Willard Gene Johnson of Ovid, Idaho, passed away in the home of his daughter, Dana, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 5, 2026, at the age of 86.
Born July 15, 1939, Gene lived a life marked by service, talent, complexity, and deep ties to the place his family helped build.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wid and Eva, his five siblings, LaVern, Wyona, Evelyn, Ray, and Niel, and most importantly, his loving, devoted wife, Arleen Hemmert Johnson.
He is survived by his children, Laron (Cathy) and Dana (Ramsey), and his grandchildren, Dalton (Katie) and Allison (Mark).
Gene will be laid to rest at sea by the United States Navy, returning to the waters that shaped so much of his life and service.
A small reception will be held at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, on Saturday, May 23, at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local Humane Society or animal shelter.
A Tribute to My Father
by Dana
My father lived a life defined by service, talent, contradiction, and a deep connection to the world around him.
He was a proud United States Navy veteran who served more than 20 years with distinguished and honorable service. As a Chief Petty Officer and Electronics Technician specializing in radar and navigation, he served aboard the USS Sierra (AD-18), USS Gearing (DD-710), USS Pledge (MSO-492), USS Pivot (MSO-463), and USS Chemung (AO-30). His career carried him across the world, with assignments in San Diego, Treasure Island, New Orleans, the Great Lakes, and Exmouth, Western Australia. From spending New Year’s Eve at the Eiffel Tower to sitting atop the Acropolis and sailing to the great pyramids, his travels were as expansive as the seas he sailed.
In a time before GPS, navigation demanded precision, discipline, and trust in one’s skill. Gene found pride in celestial navigation, charting his course by the stars and sun, carefully mapping the vast, open ocean. To circumnavigate the earth guided only by the sky was something he held as a quiet and enduring point of pride throughout his life.
He completed more than five tours in Vietnam and earned multiple commendations, including the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, five Good Conduct Medals, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. He also served as an instructor, leaving a lasting impact on those he trained through his leadership and dedication. His military career was defined by excellence, discipline, honor, and commitment, and I will always be deeply proud of it.
After his service, he continued to give to his community through the Bear Lake County Translator District, where he served for 30 years, including 20 years as President. His work helped expand television access across the entire Bear Lake area, connecting a rural community to the wider world. His dedication to service never wavered, though it often came at a personal cost.
My father’s life was not simple, and neither were the relationships within it. He carried the effects of being born during the Great Depression, as well as the weight of his years of service, including his experiences in the Vietnam War. He carried what he saw and lived through there, things no person should ever have to bear, and in his later years, those burdens surfaced as PTSD. While he gave so much of himself to his country and community, his absence was also felt within our family. That, too, is part of his story.
And yet, he gave us things that shaped who we became.
He gave me great pride in where I come from. Our family helped settle Ovid, Idaho, and that history lived in him. No matter where in the world the Navy took him, he always came back. He later purchased his childhood schoolhouse, holding onto a piece of that legacy and the town that defined him. Through his service and his stories, he instilled in me not only a respect for our roots but a deep pride in my country and those who have served it. He taught me that the resilience and determination of those who came before us matter, and that they live on through us.
He gave me laughter. My dad had a sharp wit and a sense of humor that could fill a room. His jokes were not always appropriate, but they were always memorable. He was, without question, one of the best storytellers I have ever known. The ability to make people laugh, hold their attention, and bring stories to life became something I relied on, something that carried me through my childhood and is still part of who I am today.
He gave me music. He was a gifted musician who played the organ, violin, and mandolin. He performed at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, the Mormon Tabernacle, and on renowned pipe organs throughout the United States.
And perhaps most honestly, he gave love in the way he knew how.
My father loved animals in a way that was rare and deeply genuine. He connected with them in ways he often struggled to with people, even his own family. Around animals, he was unguarded, patient, and fully himself. He was a true animal whisperer. There was a softness there, a purity, that revealed the best parts of who he was. I find comfort in the thought that his beloved dog, Trixie, came to him in those final moments, helping him find his way as he passed.
Despite everything, he raised two children who grew into strong, capable, and deeply committed members of their communities. My brother, Laron, is the 2026 Idaho Teacher of the Year and has dedicated 29 years to serving the youth of Rigby High School as an Economics and Holocaust educator. His work reflects a deep commitment to shaping not just educated students, but thoughtful, compassionate human beings. He lives by the belief that every student deserves to be college or career-ready, and his impact reaches far beyond the classroom.
More than that, he is an incredible father, present, steady, and deeply devoted to his family. The life he has built speaks volumes about his character, values, and the legacy he is creating for the next generation.
I have dedicated over 25 years of my career to serving the state of Utah, building a life centered around leadership, commitment, and service. But above all, I am deeply devoted to my family. When my mother became ill, I made the decision to bring both of my parents into my home, where I cared for both of them through the final chapters of their lives.
We are both leaders in our own ways, and we both carry pieces of him with us, both the lessons of what to do and what to do differently. We are living proof that even in difficult circumstances, something meaningful can still be built.
His life is a reminder that people are not one thing. They are complicated, imperfect, shaped by their experiences, and capable of both great strength and great struggle.
I will always be proud of his service. I will always carry his stories and his laughter with me.
I release my father’s ashes to the sea, trusting that the same force that created rivers and oceans and tides is the same force that carries our loved ones home.
With love and gratitude,
Dana
