Wendell Junior Johnson

Wendell Junior Johnson, age 90, peacefully returned to live with his Heavenly Father, his loving wife Ruth Brimhall Johnson, his parents, two grandchildren, Savannah Angeleigh Moore, Dallas Allen Johnson, and son-in-law Darryl Chandler Williams, on Sunday  June 11, 2023.

Wendell was born December 8, 1932 to Wendell Adams and Ruth Ardella Johnson. He was the oldest of two boys. He spent his childhood making mischief of one kind or another around Ogden Utah. He was a graduate of Ogden High. 

Wendell J. Johnson married Ruth Brimhall on July 9, 1953 in the Logan, Utah, LDS temple. Wendell joined the Army in 1953. He and Ruth served a stake mission in San Jose, California while there. Some of their fondest memories and best friends are from this time in their lives. 

They returned home to Utah to attend USU a few years later. Wendell graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry. He had a great love for nature. He began his career with the forest service on the Ogden Ranger District while living in Brigham City, Utah.  He ended his forestry career as the ranger on the Montpelier district of the Caribou National Forest.  While there, he pioneered the use of prescribed fire as a range management tool and studied the resulting benefits.  He was visionary enough to see the effects of indiscriminate driving on the Montpelier district, and developed a plan to control off-road vehicles.  His plan was the first in the intermountain area.  Because of his love for the environment, following his retirement from the forest service he continued to work as a range management consultant.

He loved his horses, kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and the beauties of the great outdoors.  Some of the places he loved most were remote areas around Dubois Idaho, Clear Creek Guard Station, Elk Valley, the Johnson cabin at Bear Lake, and out at the barn with his horses.

Wendell is survived by daughter Rebecca Williams Lahti (Kjol), son Jeffrey W. Johnson (Janet), daughter Debra Ann Johnson Moore (Wayne), his 13 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wendell Junior Johnson, please visit our floral store.