LeRoy Johnson

1921 - 2015

LeRoy Johnson of Palmer, Alaska, passed away on July 7, 2015. He was 93 years old. LeRoy was born on Aug. 1, 1921, on his family's farm in Balsam Lake, Wis. His mother, Mamie, died of tuberculosis just before his 3rd birthday, after which he was raised on the farm by his maternal grandparents, John and Ellen Johnson. His work ethic began at an early age. As a boy (known as Bud), he attended a one-room schoolhouse where he was responsible for arriving at school early to start the fire in the stove before the other children arrived. Upon graduation from the 8th grade, he began to work on the farm full time, supporting his grandparents as they aged. He married his high school sweetheart, Jean Olson, and his son, Gary, was born in 1946. In 1948, LeRoy decided to follow an earlier migration of colonists and try to make his way in Alaska. He worked a number of odd jobs in the Anchorage area, finally landing on a job with Union Oil. Through that connection, he was soon offered an opportunity to take over and eventually buy out the Standard Oil fuel and service company in Palmer. In 1952, Johnson Fuel Service, located in front of the original co-op and across from the Palmer train station, was established and continued as a family business serving the Mat-Su valley for more than 40 years. LeRoy became the father of two other children: Kimberlee in 1961, and Jeffrey in 1964. LeRoy was an active member of the Palmer community. He was a respected businessman and an active member of the Elks Lodge, serving as Grand Exalted Ruler from 1957-58. He was actively involved in the Civil Air Patrol, as well as being a member of the Moose Lodge and serving on the borough assembly. He was active in Colony Days, pioneer events and in 1964, sponsored the winner of the Alaska State Fair pageant. LeRoy was a hunter but especially loved to fish. He was an avid pilot and enjoyed flying to lakes and streams throughout south central Alaska to fish for trout and salmon. He eventually bought an old Russian cabin on Lake lliamna with some friends and he looked forward to spending several weeks each summer there catching, canning and smoking red salmon. One summer was spent building a new cabin alongside the old one after bears kept breaking in, once even while he was there. As LeRoy drew closer to retirement, he purchased a home in Mesa, Ariz., and eventually began spending his winters there. In Arizona, he enjoyed golf and traveling with his latest RV to various places including Mexico; Las Vegas, Nev.; California; and Yuma, Ariz., where he attended the Alaska picnic each February. He spent many years driving the Alaska Highway back and forth between Alaska and Arizona, usually pulling his trailer. He also made trips east to visit his daughter as well as oversees trips to the Philippines and Taiwan and a cruise through the Panama Canal. He greatly enjoyed having people stop by to visit with him over the years. He also liked to play games including backgammon, cribbage and more recently the card game Hand and Foot, which he taught to his grandchildren. In recent years, LeRoy continued to keep a home in Palmer for the summer and began spending winters in North Carolina with his daughter and her family. But no matter where he lived, he always considered Alaska his home. Leroy's legacy is his family and he will be remembered by his sons, Gary Johnson and Jeff Johnson of Palmer; and his daughter and son-in-law, Kimberlee and Marcus Dodson of Brevard, N.C.; as well as his grandchildren, Kelly and Hallie of Alaska, and Maggie, Jeremy and Emilee of North Carolina, and several great-grandchildren. A memorial service for LeRoy will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2015, at 2 p.m., at the Palmer Elks Lodge on Finger Lake. His family will scatter his ashes over Lake Iliamna.