Barbara Kim Johnston

Beloved Wife, Mother, Aunt, and “Gwammy”, Barbara Kim Johnston passed away on June 9, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. 

Kim was born to Donald and Joyce Butler in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on April 25, 1956. In 1964, her mom emigrated to Brigham City, Utah, with her and her siblings. She would regale us about living in the same neighborhood as the Osmonds, about being a Box Elder Bee, and about how she and her best friend, Carrie, used to hitchhike to and from Ogden on the weekends to have fun. Kim also helped raise her seven living brothers and sisters while her mother and stepfather, Roy Tuft, worked.

 After graduating from Box Elder High School in 1974, she joined the U.S. Navy, where she took pride in being a Navy Hospital Corpsman and where she met the love of her life, William “Bill” Johnston, who was also a Corpsman. They were married on August 22, 1976, and sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, February 28, 1981. 

Following the birth of their first daughter, Carrie, they moved to Monroe and then to New Orleans, Louisiana, while she and Bill were pursuing their educations. Their second daughter, Rebecca, was born while living in New Orleans. 

Kim took pride in raising their daughters. She had a fun and sometimes mischievous spirit. Always a strong support to her husband, Kim helped to grow Bill’s dental practice into the successful business it is today. Kim loved reading, crafts, spending time and going on vacations with her family, and spoiling all of grandchildren and fur grandbabies. 

As a devout, lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kim held various callings as a teacher and at times presided over the local women’s Relief Society and the children’s Primary organizations. 

Kim is survived by her husband, William C. Johnston; her daughters, Carrie (Summer) Nielsen and Rebecca Johnston; her stepfather, Roscoe Tuft; her siblings: Donald (Valme) Butler, Tom (Gloria) Butler, Kevin Butler, Mary (Marcel) Willden, Rex (Shelly) Butler, and Brenda Belmont (R.J. Guillen); her three grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; her cherished care-taker, Tina (Cole) Motley; and her fur baby Jaxon. She is preceded in death by her mother, Joyce Tuft; sister, Beverly Butler; and brother, Byron Butler. 

A viewing will be held Monday, June 16, 2025, from Noon to 1:30 p.m. at Mulhearn Funeral Home at 2308 Sterlington Rd. in Monroe, Louisiana, followed by a graveside service at 2:00 p.m. at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery at 623 Highway 80 E., Monroe, Louisiana.