Nils B. Johansson

Nils B. Johansson died peacefully, surrounded by family, at the age of 91. He is enjoying a sweet reunion with Nancy, his cherished wife of 68 years, who passed away in 2021. He'll have flowers cut fresh from his beautiful garden in his casket to deliver to her as he did so often in life. Nils was born in Malmö, Sweden, and emigrated to the United States at age 17.
He served in the U.S. Marines in Hawaii, where he met and married Nancy in the Laie Hawaii Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life was defined by hard work and service to others. While raising a large, rambunctious family, he worked to put himself through college. He built a small catering business into a family institution, employing every child and their friends over the 25 years it was in business. His initial retirement was cut short when he was called into service running a non-profit cannery and food bank. He also served as Bishop for his church congregation. In 2000, he and Nancy served a two-year humanitarian mission to Belgrade, Serbia, where he used all his talents, from negotiating with high officials to allow importation of donated diapers and other basic supplies, to delivering chickens, and teaching villagers how to raise them to improve their family food supply. No matter how hard he worked, he always found time for family fun.
While attending the Bonneville Salt Flats races, he jumped into his son's racecar and became the oldest member of the USFRA 130 mph club. In recent years he used all his energy to enjoy his family and being a doting Far Far. Just in the last month he ate his weight in lobster up and down the East Coast with his daughter and family, and a week later could be found riding on the back of a jet ski driven by his grandson during a family weekend at the lake.
He is survived by his children Vicki Johansson (Newby), Carl and Laura (Richard) Johansson, Steven and Tracey (Stone) Johansson, Scott and Jenny (Starkey) Johansson, Jack and Joan (Dungan) Johansson, Amy Johansson, Bill and Kristin (Ballard) Johansson, Troy and Monique (Fobbs) Johansson, 27 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Nancy Johansson (Clawson), son Nils B. Johansson Jr., and grandchildren Nils B. Johansson III, and Nephi Johansson.
Video tribute to Nils created for his 90th Birthday Party.