Richard Arthur Johnson

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Dick Johnson at the age of 86 years. He died peacefully at Ponderosa Lodge.

Dick was born on Valentines Day, February 14, 1936, in Cadomin Alberta to parents, William Julius Johnson and Mable Lillian Douglas. He was a coal miner’s son and grew up in Cadomin. His family would relocate to Burns Lake, BC in 1950. The family then moved to Kitimat BC on the northwest coast in 1955. Here he met his lovely wife Maxine Verlie Middleton, and they were married in 1956 and remained so for 65 years. In 1972 with six children, the family relocated to Kamloops. Dick attended Cariboo College (TRU) where he would obtain his journeyman’s ticket as an electrician.

After retiring in 1996, Dick and Verlie travelled to several countries, and they would follow their dream – to set up home at the ocean’s edge in Ladysmith Marina, BC. Together they would join the Power-Squadrons and become leaders at their yacht club. After 10 years of exploring the west coast inlets, they would find themselves back on the mainland and, eventually returned to Kamloops in 2013.

Dick is survived by his wife Verlie, sisters Erna (Douglas Jobb) and Anne (Jacob Rusten), and brother Stewart (Carol), daughter Cindy (Ray of Edmonton), Sons Richard (Geri of Duncan) and David (Dale of Kamloops), daughter in law Brenda (of Kamloops), seven grandchildren (Kurt, Travis, Adam, Nathan, Devan, Carlee, and Aaron) and four great-grandchildren (Camryn, Donald, Serenity & Fox), and numerous nephews and nieces.

He is predeceased by his three sons, Donald Middleton, Dale Kim, and Brian Emil, his brother Douglas, and his parents.

A celebration of life will take place next spring.

The family is ever grateful to all the staff at Ponderosa Lodge for their loving care of Dick over the last 2½ years. We sincerely thank everyone who helped make his stay comfortable.