William George Johnson Sr.

Bill was born the youngest of three boys to Andy and Ethel Johnson on May 23, 1945 in Caldwell, Idaho.

He graduated from Caldwell High School in the early 1960’s and went on to attend college at Albertson College, San Francisco State College, and the University of Nevada Reno.

Following college Bill remained in Reno, Nevada where in the late 1970’s he met his wife, Kathleen. They married on February 23, 1980 in Virginia City, Nevada in a small private ceremony.

Bill had an adventurous spirit and loved to experience new places. He attended the Seattle World’s Fair with his parents in 1962. During college he road tripped with friends across the continental United States visiting sites such as the Grand Canyon, Arizona and Niagara Falls, New York. He lived in many cities throughout the west coast including Medford, Oregon; Portland, Oregon; Riverside, California, Salem/Keizer, Oregon, and finally Bend, Oregon.

He loved the west coast and calling the Pacific Northwest home with his family.

He was an avid lover of sports. He followed the Boise State Broncos football team, and the Seattle Mariners baseball team. He listened to sports both through radio and television, and was a fan of the greats such as Harry Caray of the Chicago Cubs, Vin Scully of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, and especially Dave Niehaus of the Seattle Mariners. Though his beloved Mariners never made it to the baseball world series, he was adamant every season that it would be the one. He loved the Kingdome, and he loved Safeco field, both of which he had the privilege to visit where he was able to experience the Mariners live at home.

He had a keen intelligence spanning over multiple areas of study including theological studies, geography, mathematics, and music, and he shared this knowledge not only with his children, but also through his tutoring of students.

Bill was a loving husband, father, grandpa, son, brother, teacher, and friend. Though he will be greatly missed, he was a devout Christian who believed in God, and there is comfort in knowing that he has been reunited with those who preceded him. His father Andy, his mother Ethel, his brothers Larry and Robert “Bob”, his wife Kathy, and his daughter Lois Grace.

He Is survived by his daughters, Angela (wife Brenda), Marie (husband Ryan), Elizabeth, and his son William Jr. “Billy” (wife Amanda “Mandy”), and three granddaughters who were his everything, Bethany, Areya, and Gracie.

Bill will be laid to rest next to his wife Kathy at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Portland, Oregon.

A graveside service for William will be held Friday, August 2, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM at Finley Sunset Hills Mortuary, 6801 SW SUNSET HWY, PORTLAND, OR 97225.