Larry Donald Johnson

Larry Donald Johnson
September 16, 1939 - November 10, 2008

After a long fight with leukemia and eventually a stroke, Larry D. Johnson passed away with family at his side on Monday night, November 10th, at Saint Vincents Hospital in Billings, Montana. He was 69 years old.
Larry has long been a fixture in the oilfields of Wyoming, both in Midwest where he got his start and then in the oilfields of the Big Horn Basin. For those that have worked with Larry and know him well, they know that we will all be missing a big man with an even bigger heart just full of compassion. He would never ask anybody to do anything that he wouldn't do himself and he was quick to offer help to those that needed it.
He was born on September 16, 1939, to Theodore and Laura Johnson in Ettrick, Wisconsin, and was raised on a farm in Blair, Wisconsin. He was the ninth out of ten children and times were hard, but the ties to his family were always near and dear to his heart.
After graduating high school, Larry moved to Midwest, Wyoming, where his older sister lived. That is where he got his start in the oilfields and also where he met his wife, Alice Faye Corum. They were married on June 23, 1959, in Midwest had two children while there, Rick and Tami. They moved to Powell, Wyoming, where he continued in the oilfields working on service units for K & T and then began his own well service company, J & R Well Service, in 1972. Larry was a very hard worker and made work his hobby as well. He always felt identified by his work and instilled that same work ethic in those around him. He sold J & R Well Service in November of 2000, but remained active in the company for several years before finally retiring from J & R - though definitely not retiring as a whole for he also had his trucking company, L.J. Trucking, that he managed concurrently during those same years and continued on with the oilfield trucking business clear up to the time of his passing.
Other than work, he enjoyed truck pulling and made a great deal of friends traveling around the country competing with his truck known as Ol' Rig. This was a sport that he enjoyed with his family and eventually there were three generations of Johnsons competing together.
Survivors include his wife, Alice of Powell; son, Rick (Colleen) Johnson of Powell; daughter, Tami Johnson of Boulder, Colorado; granddaughters, Tanna Faye Mittlieder and Tawny Faye Mittlieder of Powell; grandsons, Kory Donald Johnson and Randy Donald Johnson of Powell; sisters, Amy (Fritz) Underwood and Virginia Kolb; brother, Lawrence Robert (Iris) Johnson; sister-in-law, Clara Mae Johnson; brother-in-law, Floyd Charles Corum and Dr. Marc Shampoo; as well as several nieces and nephews that were all very important to Larry; and his beloved dog, Snuggles, who always made him feel better.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Tilford, Kenneth, and Norman; and his sisters Verna, Marilyn, Lila.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service is set for 2:00 P.M. Friday, November 14th, at the Nelson Performing Arts Center (Northwest College Auditorium) located on the NWC Campus on Sixth Street in Powell. Revered Doctor William Spencer of Hope Lutheran Church will be performing the service. Burial will take place at Crown Hill Cemetery.
For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or the charity of your choice.