Delbert LeRoy "Del" Johnson

KEIZER - Delbert was born on October 11, 1932, at Salem Deaconess Hospital (now, Salem Hospital) to Ida Flora (Schrunk) and Charles Arthur Johnson, of Macleay. After surviving more types of cancer than any human being should have to bear, he peacefully succumbed to Lymphoma, breathing easily, on the afternoon of March 9, 2005. Del grew up on the Johnson farm on the corner of State Street and Howell Prairie. He attended Macleay Grade School and Parrish Junior High. He graduated in 1950 from Salem High School where he was a member of the Commercial Club. From 1951 to 1952 he was a cable splicer with the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company of Salem. He was in the Army Signal Corps, stationed at Camp Hanford, Richland, Wash., where he was the Headquarters Company Clerk. He was honorably discharged in 1956, with 36-months of active duty. He graduated from Merritt Davis School of Commerce with a business degree in 1957, while working part-time as a typesetter at Your Town Press in Salem. Del began his music "career" as a youngster, first learning the violin, then the piano, before moving on to drums. Del, his mother and brother, played in a band for many local dances. It was at one of those dances that he met Dorthey Ilene Jaenicke. Del and Dorthey were married on July 13, 1953 at Four Corners Baptist Church. He was an office manager and accountant for Gideon Stolz Company from 1957 to 1974, then J.B. Sod and Seed in Silverton until 1979. He then served as Curly's Dairy's Comptroller, until his retirement in 2002. Del was a member of the South Salem Lions, Salem Elks, Salem Eagles, and the Keizer Senior Center. He was elected by the citizens of Keizer to serve as Commissioner of the Keizer Water Board, a volunteer position he held for many years. He was "King Bing" of the Salem Cherrians, Past-President of the Willamette Valley Jazz Society, and served on many Salem Chamber of Commerce Committees, including chairman of the First Citizens Banquet and Program. He played drums in several local bands, including the Good Sounds; Tyrolean Village Band; Two Guys and a Gal, which played regularly at Senior Center Dances; and The Occasional Jazz Band with Doc Severinsen, playing at Doc's annual Big River Band Festival in Arlington, Ore. His favorite music was Dixieland Jazz and Swing. Del could always be counted on to create a band for any function. Del was artistic, and was known for creating the family Christmas Cards with photos of the children. He was very personable and well-liked. He was guided by the values of fairness and respect; if you treated him and other people well, he was your friend for life. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor. Del was a longtime volunteer with the Keizer Senior Center's Music Department. He was interested in music, woodworking, and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Dorthey; daughters and sons-in-law, Sherryll Lee and William Hoar and Suzette LeAnne and Gary Thomas; sons, Shawn LeRoy Johnson of Kona, Hawaii and Shannon LeWayne Johnson; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Amanda LeeAnne and Mike Rienzo; grandchildren, Stefanie Lee, Zachary Shawn and Anjaleina Rae Anne Johnson; grandchildren, Troy Landon and Tyler Lee Thomas; granddaughter, Angelina Rae Johnson; great-grandson, Michael Dominick Rienzo and a slew of "honorary" children who were pleased to call him "Pops." He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard Wesley Johnson. Viewing will be Sat., March 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Mon., March 14, from 9 a.m. to service time. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m., Mon., March 14, all at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon- Ransom Funeral Directors, 1350 Commercial St. S.E., Salem. An informal potluck gathering of family and friends will take place at the Keizer-Salem Senior Center, 930 Plymouth Dr. N.E., Keizer, following the memorial service. Musicians: Bring your axe! Graveside service will be at 11 a.m., Tues., March 15, at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Willamette Valley Jazz Soc