James Johnson

Longtime Libby building contractor James E. Johnson, 87, died on Feb. 1, 2005, at the Libby Care Center.

He was born on Nov. 12, 1917, at Luther, to Callie Wilson and Janet Helps Wilson.

His father died when he was very young and Jim was adopted by August Johnson.

Raised and educated at Fromberg, he came to Libby in 1936.

Jim married Mary Applegate of Libby on May 31, 1941, at Kalispell.

James served with the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II.

The Johnsons raised their family in the Kootenai Valley, where Jim worked for J. Neils Lumber Company and St. Regis, until he went into business for himself as a building contractor. He built at least 40 homes in the Libby area.

A member of the Church of the Nazarene, Jim served the Lord in numerous capacities in the church.

An avid outdoorsman, Jim enjoyed fishing, hunting and hiking in the mountains surrounding Libby.

Survivors include Mary, his wife for 63 years, at the family home in Libby; their children, Carolyn Alsbury and her husband Fred, Libby; Richard Johnson and his wife Genie, Buckley, Wash., and Bobby Johnson and his wife Robbie, Wellington, Fla.; sister Edna Visger and her husband Lawrence, Libby, 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by grandson Craig Geil.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at the Church of the Nazarene, followed by interment services with military honors at Milnor Lake Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home from 1-8 p.m. on Sunday.