Lyle Delmar Johnston

1916 - 2011

Lyle Delmar Johnston, 95, passed away at his home in Yuma, Arizona on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Lyle was born February 10, 1916, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Lyle moved to Westwood, CA in 1935 to work at the Red River Lumber Company. Married Louise Morini in June of 1937. They had a son, Paul. In 1949 Lyle and his family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where they had another son, John.

In 1954 Lyle was working for Alaska Freight Lines where he was part of the historic first team of drivers taking supplies from Fairbanks to the Arctic Coast. The destination was near the mouth of the McKenzie River where they carried fuel and supplies for the construction of the United States and Canadian Distant Early Warning Radar Screen, or the Dew Line.

In 1977, while he was working on driving freight for construction on the Alaska Pipeline, his wife Louise became ill and later passed away in 1978.

For the next several years Lyle lived in Hawaii, Washington State, Alaska and Arizona. In 1999 he married Mabel (Mae) Johnston, a woman he had known in Valdez 50 years earlier.

Lyle and Mae were very active in Agua De Vida, an orphanage in Moralas, Mexico, where they are known as grandmother and grandfather to all of the orphans.

Lyle will be greatly missed by his wife Mae, sons Paul and John, 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and his 2 step-daughters.

Memorial service to be held at Victory Community Church, 11358 S. Ave. 9E, Yuma, AZ on Saturday, March 26th at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the orphanage Agua De Vida, A House of Prayer Faith Mission Ministries, P.O. Box 1778, Winterhaven, CA 92283. In the memo portion please indicate that it is for the orphanage. Donations can also be given to Victory Community Church and Hospice of Yuma.