Daniel ‘Boomer’ Johnson, age 69, of Helena

Daniel ‘Boomer’ Stuard Johnson was born in Bozeman, Montana, on December 16, 1953. He was the youngest of three children born to William (Bill) and Darlinne (Tudy) Johnson. His two older sisters are Shauna Uperesa of Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Christy Burbank of Helena, Montana. Dan’s father nicknamed him Boomer as a baby when he started to bounce and scoot around the floor instead of crawl. It reminded Bill of the baby kangaroos he saw back when he was stationed in Australia during World War II. “Boomer” was a term used colloquially for kangaroos there, and the nickname stuck with Dan his whole life.

From 1952 to 1962, the Johnson family ranched 640 acres in Bridger Canyon where Dan and his sisters attended a one-room schoolhouse and learned to love the rugged terrain. They always referred to the Bridger Mountains as not only the prettiest mountains in Montana but the prettiest mountains in the world. When Boomer was 9, the family moved to an 80-acre ranch in Helena Valley, where he ran cattle, changed irrigation pipe, rode horses, and continued exploring the great Montana outdoors, including multiple treks into the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Dan graduated from Helena High in 1972. He tried a few sports in high school but did not like them nearly as much as he enjoyed music. He learned to play the guitar like his father, and it became his main accessory. The first band Boomer joined in high school was called “Green.” They booked a gig at a high school dance in Boulder, but when they started their set, they were asked to stop and “play bubblegum pop instead of rock and roll.” They didn’t know any Bobby Sherman songs, so they were told to leave immediately and were never paid. Dan then wrote a song about being kicked out of Boulder, and it became a lifelong joke about having a grudge against the town.

That experience became a template for how Boomer dealt with things throughout his life – with music, creativity, and humor. When he faced challenges, he looked for ways to be playful with them and lighten the heaviness of life’s disappointments. Through songs, storytelling, and comedy, he made the world a much friendlier and more joyful place. He did this for himself and also for his kids. He could turn scary or stressful situations into fun and special memories. He didn’t hide the truth, but created a protective buffer from negativity and fear.

In April of 1973, Boomer entered active duty in the U.S. Air Force. He worked mostly as a mechanic, including as an aircrew egress system repair tech, maintaining the ejection systems of planes. He was stationed in Okinawa among other assignments during the Vietnam era. Near the end of his time in the service, he came to faith in Jesus Christ. He decided to join the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) program in Bozeman after receiving an honorable discharge from the USAF in December of 1977. While in the YWAM program he met the love of his life, Sandie Denson, and they were married in December of 1978.

Dan, Sandie, and Jennifer made their first home together in Bozeman, and as their blended family grew, they purchased and built a home in Belgrade. Dan served on the Belgrade City Council, worked for Amfac Plumbing, attended classes through Montana State University, led worship at various churches, and took his kids to the Museum of the Rockies, which they all remember fondly as “the dinosaur museum.”

Children of all ages were naturally drawn to Boomer, and he had endless patience for them. He would get them giggling, hanging on every word of his stories, and begging him to make up another song about their names. He was a gentle giant at parties who always had a crowd of kids sitting at his feet.

As his own four children, James Long of the Little Shell Chippewa tribe, Jennifer Alexander, Keith Johnson, and Lindsey Davis were growing up, he would quiz them on Montana facts. What rivers come together to form the Missouri? What mountain ranges make up the Gallatin Valley? Where was gold first discovered in Montana? What river moves the most water out of Montana? What are the different types of ranch fences? Road trips with Boomer were really fun. They were filled with tons of singing, of course, but also adventures and discoveries. He taught others to be spontaneous, open-minded, curious about everything, and grateful for the beauty in the world.

After taking a road trip to Oregon as a family, Dan and Sandie decided to move there and enjoy being nearer to the ocean and a warmer climate. They spent a lot of time in their VW bus, adventuring to the coast and “sleeping out.” Dan joined the Oregon National Guard, led worship, facilitated children’s ministry, and worked several jobs in Eugene.

Boomer was always a people person, and had a deep desire to help those who were hurting or in need. In Bozeman, he wanted to start a “Hug Clinic” where people could come and get free hugs. In Oregon, he was quick to care for people sitting alone outside asking for donations. Often there was no money to give, so the help he offered was spending time talking and praying with them. He also took his family to volunteer with outreaches to people living on the street. When there were new families at church on Sundays, he was sure to make them feel welcome and invite them over for Sunday supper. He was always accepting and loving towards people, no matter their situation. He lived by his Grandpa Leonard’s example to “always be a generous person” even if it meant that he would have to do without.

He suffered a terrible accident on the job in 1989, sustaining severe injuries that altered the course of his life, and contributed greatly to his early death. After a rough couple of years trying to recover in Oregon, the family went back to Montana in 1991. Sandie and the kids soon returned to Oregon, and Dan lived the rest of his life in Helena. Dan worked various jobs and helped his parents run the ranch until they sold it and moved into town. He assisted with their care as they aged.

Dan played guitar and sang with many bands over the years. He loved creating opportunities for people to enjoy music, and rarely attended any gathering without his guitar. He had a wide and eclectic musical taste and authored many original songs – some that were written down and countless others that he made up on the spot and were “one time only” performances. He particularly loved playing the Montana State Song and country or folk music that reminded him of home. He played guitar at his church and for local veterans’ gatherings until he couldn’t play anymore, and he continued to sing right up until the end of his life. He always said goodbye by singing his heartfelt version of Roy Rogers’ “Happy Trails.”

For decades, Boomer received incredible care through the VA system in Helena. He entered the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center on December 2, 2022, for what initially seemed like routine treatment. Over the next few weeks, it became apparent that his earthly life would draw to its close at the Fort just as his father Bill’s had 18 years before. After a few precious days with his kids and several visits from dear friends, Boomer passed away peacefully on the morning of January 18, 2023, at the age of 69.

Daniel Stuard Johnson was preceded in death by his parents, Bill in 2004 and Tudy in 2007. Boomer is survived by his two sisters, Shauna (Misi) Uperesa and Christy Burbank, along with his four children, James Long of Baltimore, Maryland, Jennifer (Robert) Alexander of Montrose, Colorado, Keith (Jen) Johnson of Portland, Oregon, and Lindsey (Jeff) Davis of Eugene, Oregon, and his six grandchildren, Leah, Kaya, Nate and Judah Johnson, and Greta and Jean-Luc Davis.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 12:00pm in the chapel of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home located at 3750 North Montana Avenue, Helena, Montana 59602.

*A memorial fund has been set up online at Boomer’s Grandkids Education Fund and all donations will help accomplish something Dan always wished he had the resources to do – assist his grandchildren in affording a college education.*

Service Schedule

Memorial Service

12:00 p.m.

Saturday February 18, 2023

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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Reception

Following the service

Saturday February 18, 2023

Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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