Christine Cecilia "Crissy" DeMill

Christine Cecilia Johnson DeMill: A Life of Love, Kindness, and Grace

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt and Friend, Christine Cecilia Johnson DeMill, who departed from us on December 21, 2025, at the age of 64. Christine was a cherished daughter, a loving mother and grandmother, and a treasured sister and friend. Her presence brightened the lives of all who knew her, and her memory will forever be a source of comfort and inspiration.

Early Life and Childhood

Born on March 23, 1961, in Great Falls, Montana, to Richard LeRoy Johnson and LaVerne Marie Stratman, Christine was the second of four children. Growing up in Shelby, Montana, she developed a lifelong love for horses and barrel racing and her time spent with her best friends on the Russell Farm and Glacier National Park was where she was happiest. She attended Shelby High School, where she excelled academically and participated in drill team.

A Heart Full of Love

Christine's greatest joy was her family. Her first child Aaron Button was born in Helena, Montana, on January 11, 1982. Christine moved to Utah in 1983 following her beloved mother who was transferred by US West. Christine met and married Gary Stockmoe on May 25, 1986, and together they adopted her second child Justine at birth on April 16, 1990. She married her best friend, Ron DeMill, on June 6, 1996, (later divorced) and together they built a beautiful home filled with laughter and unconditional love. She was a dedicated and nurturing mother to numerous foster children, Amber, Kristy, Destiny, Latika, Jessica, Josh, Brandy, Sharon, Rico and baby Mathew.She instilled in them the importance of loyalty, love and perseverance and her support was the foundation upon which their lives were built. Christine, later in life, adopted two additional children, Jamison and Deacon (brothers) who were the focus of her life. The boys gave her determination to fight several serious medical issues over the last decade.

For her siblings, Christine was a steady beacon of warmth and unwavering friendship. She was the glue that held the family together. As an aunt she was a safe harbor. She treasured her nieces and nephews, all 10 of them. She had a very special connection with her niece Leslie, treating her more like a daughter and best friend than niece. We will deeply miss her voice of reason, her protective nature, the sound of her laugh, the smell of her perfume, late-night gossip sessions, her wise advice, her deep compassion and her guidance in our lives.

Career and Community

Christine found a career that fit her personality perfectly and dedicated many years to her work as an office manager at Hillcrest Care Center in Sandy, Utah, where her fierce loyalty to the residents and staff was valued by her colleagues and clients alike. Christine spent her life making the lives of others better each and every day. So many people learned how to be compassionate and caring people by following her example. Beyond her career, she was an active and contributing member of her community. She never left a stray cat or dog to fend for themselves, and filled her home with many companion pets with whom she is now reunited. Her commitment to protecting the defenseless, whether animal or human, reflected her belief in making the world a better place, one kind gesture at a time.

Her Beautiful Legacy

Christine had an elegant spirit and a remarkable capacity for empathy. She found beauty in the simple things: a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, the first bloom of spring, the sound of her children playing, her love of all things Victorian. Christine was an example of Christianity in every way, nonjudgmental with the ability to find something to love about every person she met. Her kindness was legendary; she never hesitated to offer a helping hand or a listening ear. She leaves behind a legacy of grace, resilience, and a deep, abiding love that will continue to shape the lives of her family and friends.

Christine is survived by her loving children Aaron Button, Justine DeMill, Jamison DeMill and Deacon DeMill, her grandchildren Ellyjah Aguilar-DeMill and Donovan Pugeau, her mother LaVerne Parker, her siblings Brian Johnson, Doreen DeMill (Kent), and Jacqueline Olson (Reo), and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly. She is preceded in death by her father Richard Johnson, brother Richard "Ricky" Johnson, nephew Jeremy DeMill, father-in-law Mark DeMill and all four grandparents, Joseph and Cecilia Stratman and Roy and Anna Johnson. She is also preceded in death by Babe, Justice, Chloe, Alaina, and many other pets.

A Message from Her Son:

She was a mother who gave everything she had to her family and to anyone else who needed her, often putting her own comfort and dreams aside without hesitation. Her willingness to help others came naturally, whether it was offering her time, her strength, or simply her presence, and that same generosity shaped our home. Some of the most meaningful moments came during the trips we took to Montana each year, when we would see family and reconnect with the people who meant the most to her. Visiting her favorite place, Glacier National Park, brought out a quiet peace and joy in her that stayed with all of us. Surrounded by family, mountains, and open skies, she was most selfless, loving, and deeply rooted in connection, leaving us with memories that reflect not just where we went, but who she was. She will be missed but not forgotten. I know she will continue to guide each of us every day and night.

A Message from Her Daughter:

What can I even say about my mommy? She was my everything - my superhero, my safe place. Her heart was pure gold and it shone in everything she did. She was my angel on earth, the most loving mother anyone could ask for; no one will ever compare. She never once made me feel different or unloved - she reminded me how special our bond was, and I carried that truth with me every day. I don't know how to say goodbye to the person who always had my back and stood by my side. I wish I could tell her again that she was beautiful, inside and out. I wish for more time to hold her hand and say "I love you." She is the reason I am the mother I am today. I love you, Mommy.

A viewing service to celebrate Christine's life will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Road (10600 S), Sandy, UT 84092 on January 9, 2025, from 6 pm to 9 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to aid her children in covering the cost of her service and the financial challenges that lay ahead to Reo Olson via venmo @Reo-Olson-1.

May her soul find eternal rest, and may we continue to honor her memory by embodying the compassion and joy she brought into our lives.