Stephen A. Johnson, age 68, of Seeley Lake

Stephen Armer Johnson, 68, passed away on March 25, 2019 at Fort Harrison VA Medical Center in Helena, Montana surrounded by his loving family.

 Stephen was born on September 13, 1950 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Charles Lebert and Voilet Lucille (Shockley) Johnson. He was the second of four children.

 He was raised in southern Missouri and moved to Central Oregon for his grade school years. He returned to Missouri and graduated high school in Deepwater. He was accepted into West Point, but chose not to attend. He was drafted into the army at age 18 and served in Vietnam as a military policeman. Upon returning from Vietnam, he met his wife, LaVange Martin, and they were married June 16, 1975 in Collins, Missouri.

 From that marriage, there were five children born; Amanda, Stephanie, Kayla, Stephen, and Sally. They had been married 43 years when he passed.

 A year after they were married, they moved to Union, Oregon, where he was a log truck driver. He had a great love of aviation, and received his pilot’s license with his GI Bill where he flew a Piper Archer II. In 1981, the family moved to Alaska, where he continued his career as a long haul freight truck driver, driving from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay and on the ice roads. In 1988, he moved to Seeley Lake, Montana, where he drove log trucks until the end of his career.

 He loved being outdoors, whether hunting, shooting, fishing or cutting fire wood. He also enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball and the Chicago Cubs and the Saint Louis Cardinals. He was a collector of guns and coins. He also enjoyed spending time reloading ammunition. Stephen also loved animals, especially Labradors.

 He was preceded in death by his parents.

 He is survived by, his wife, LaVange, children, Amanda (Steven) Stanley, Stephanie (Gavin) Alexander, Kayla Johnson, Stephen (Alejandra) Johnson, and Sally Johnson; also by grandchildren; Haley, Rachel, and Levi Stanley; Courtney, and Lauren Alexander; Stephen, Lucille, and Ashley Johnson. He is also survived by brothers, John Johnson and Buck Johnson, and sister, Tammy Johnson.

 Viewing will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 29th at Faith Chapel, 3260 Highway 83 North, Seeley Lake. A funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Chapel with a reception to follow in the social hall of the church. A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29th at Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Stephen’s name to the VA Liberty House, at Attention: AOD Desk- Liberty House, 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Stephen.

Service Schedule

Viewing

9:00 a.m.

Friday March 29, 2019

Faith Chapel

3260 Highway 83 North

Seeley Lake, Montana 59868

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Funeral Service

10:00 a.m.

Friday March 29, 2019

Faith Chapel

3260 Highway 83 North

Seeley Lake, Montana 59868

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Reception

Following the funeral service

Friday March 29, 2019

Faith Chapel Social Hall

3260 Highway 83 North

Seeley Lake, Montana 59868

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Burial with Military Honors

3:00 p.m.

Friday March 29, 2019

Montana State Veterans Cemetery

Heroes Road

Fort Harrison, Montana 59602

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