Monty Ronald Johnson

Monty Ronald Johnson was born on November 5, 1934 to Noral Ivan Johnson and Cora Odella Frandsen in Firth, Idaho. Grandpa Ivan had lost his first wife, Mary Frances in 1932 due to complications of childbirth with their fourth child, also named Ivan. The three older siblings were: Genevie, Laverle, and Neola. Monty was Coras first child and would be joined by three sisters: Donna, IvaDell, and Loraine. Monty grew up in the Old Alameda area, where his family made their home at 810 E. Poplar Street. He and his dad owned and operated a sand and gravel business. They also did landscaping with a small tractor and blade. One of their many accomplishments was manicuring the land in south Pocatello for the first nine holes of Juniper Hills Country Club golf course. Monty was always a hard worker and took personal pride in fixing things himself. He could be a brick layer one day and a car mechanic the next! "Do-it-yourself" home repair and vehicle maintenance were a given. There was no task he wouldnt tackle himself. Monty spied a young and lovely, tall girl at the Deleta skating rink on November 5, 1949. He was there celebrating his birthday with friends and quickly made the afternoon his first unofficial date with Gloria Marie Biondi. Stories have been told over and over about him literally chasing her across town just to have conversations. Of course, Gloria with her gazelle-like legs, would run ahead just slow enough that he could catch her! They had good fun together and were married on April 17, 1953. They rode on a passenger train to Salt Lake City for a short honeymoon and stayed in a quaint downtown hotel that rented for $2.00/night. They strolled through Liberty Park and visited Temple Square of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When they arrived back in Pocatello, they had a whopping $40.00 combined dowry to start their new married life together! Their first apartment was in what now is known as Old Town Pocatello on Main St. where they resided for approximately a year. They then moved to a home on Fredregill Rd where they welcomed their first daughter Mona on Oct 16, 1955. Sixteen months later a 2 nd daughter Cyndee would join them on Feb 24, 1957. Shortly afterward they moved to Putnam St and there they welcomed their 3 rd daughter Corey on June 19, 1959. With their little family growing and the need for a larger home they moved up on the west bench to Hillcrest Street in 1960 where they welcomed a son, Monty Jr. on May 31, 1961. It was during this time as a member of the old 20 th Ward that Dad spent many hours working on what is now known as the LDS Central Stake building. In 1968, they moved to Valleyview Dr where they resided until 1991, when they moved to their current home on Ebony St. Monty had several "careers" in his life. He started and as a carman at the railroad shortly after marriage. He decided to get some college education and made the decision to pursue law enforcement. He became a policeman for the Pocatello Police Department in 1959. (His kids were privileged to get occasional rides home from school on the big Harley Davidson police motorcycles!) He also taught law enforcement courses at Idaho State University and held several positions on the police force including: undercover special detective in the narcotics division, reporting to state and federal authorities. He left the police department just shy of 20 years. He spent a few years welding large machinery for Bucyrus Eyrie and worked a couple of side jobs at Pocatello Cold Storage and driving a cement truck for Pocatello Ready-To-Pour. He then went back to work at the railroad until Union Pacific downsized their locomotive maintenance shop here. A good friend arranged an interview for a pipefitter/welder position in the maintenance department at the FMC chemical plant, where he secured the job and stayed until retiring on his birthday in 1999. To say he was "an avid outdoorsman" would be the understatement of the century! Vacation time for Monty involved fishing, hunting, tents, and breakfast pancakes cooked over a campfire. He taught us kids and anyone who cared to learn how to fish, hunt, water ski, and snow ski. When all us kids left the nest, he really developed a passion for archery and bowhunting. He had harvested numerous elk, countless, deer, and a moose all with his Winchester 270 rifle. He even took a deer or two with a bow; but his true love of hunting was stalking Idaho elk with his bow. In all the years he hunted elk with bow and arrow, he understood the "thrill of the hunt" was more important than the kill. He passed up countless easy shots and never took an elk with his bow. He and Gloria enjoyed many years in the Region 5 Idaho State Bowhunters Association and the Pocatello Field Archers, where they both served as presidents and met lifelong friends. Monty was known as "Brother Johnson" to members of several congregations in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in Sunday School, Young Mens Organization, Elders Quorum, High Priest Group, and Counselor in a Bishopric of his ward. He had a firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He taught others the importance of Temple blessings and kept the covenants he made with God. The family would like to thank everyone who cared for our father, grandpa, brother, and husband while he struggled with health issues these past few weeks. We have been truly blessed by your kindness. Our beloved Patriarch will be forever missed, but never forgotten. We have been loved so much by him, learned so much from him, and are we better people because of him. Monty is survived by his wife, Gloria; three sisters, Donna Pierce, IvaDell Howell, and Loraine (Sydney) Smith; his four children, Mona (Dennis) Bloxham, Cyndee (Don) Zebe, Corey Warner, and Monty (Lisa) Johnson; twelve grandchildren; and thirty-three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; two sisters; and his grandson, Trevor. A viewing will be held on Friday, March 22, 2019 from 6-8 pm at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4 th Ave. Pocatello, ID. Services will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 11 am at the LDS Church, 225 Oakwood Dr. Pocatello, ID 83204, with a viewing for one hour prior. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. 5 th Ave. Pocatello, ID.

Visitation

03/23/2019 10:00

11:00:00

LDS Church Grant Ave.

655 S. Grant Ave.

Pocatello

Idaho

83204



Visitation

03/22/2019 18:00

20:00:00

Oakwood Drive Church

225 Oakwood Dr.

Pocatello

Idaho

83204



Funeral Service

03/23/2019 11:00



Colonial Chapel

2005 S 4th Ave

Pocatello

Idaho

83201