Richard Duane Johnson, 86, of Libby

Richard Duane Johnson died at his home in Libby with his wife Laura and family beside him Sunday evening Feb. 19, 2012.

Duane was born April 10, 1925, in Eureka Mont. He was preceded in death by his parents Orville and Harriet (Frost) Johnson, seven of his brothers and sisters, and his wife Carmen (Cole) Johnson.

He is survived by his wife Laura (Schnackenberg); his son David and wife Donnita and their three daughters Nicole, Sarah, and Jessica and their families; also Laura’s children John and Sharon and  children Eric, Marc, Becky, Scott, Chris and families; Steve and Denise and sons Jared, James and Jason; Joe and Rose and children Phillip and Selena; and Colleen and Joe Wood and children Matt, Brent, Jourdan, Brenna and Cody and families;  11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lois Osteen; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws.

 Duane lived the first five years of his life on the family homestead near Sophie Lake northwest of Eureka. The family then moved into town where Duane attended school and graduated from high school in 1943. 

After graduation he joined the service and spent his time in the U.S. Army in the Pacific area. After being discharged, Duane moved to Thompson Falls, Mont., where he worked as a logger. 

There he met and married Carmen Cole on May 18, 1947.                                                                                                                  

After moving to Libby, Duane went to work in the saw mill for the J. Neils Lumber Co. in 1950 where he worked for 40 years until his retirement in 1990. He worked at most of the jobs in the mill but was most proud of the time he spent as the Long-Side Head Sawyer. During his spare time he built the family home. 

The most important things to Duane were family and church. He was the family historian, story teller, and a long time member and leader of the Libby Church of God where he was Sunday school teacher, youth leader, and several times chairman of the board.

In the 1960s the church decided to sponsor a Boy Scout troop and Duane was chosen to be Scoutmaster. With the help of Elmer Martin they took the boys camping every month; warm, cold, sun, or snow.

After Carmen’s death on Jan. 3, 1999, Duane learned to cook and clean house, something he knew very little about. While walking in the halls of the Libby Middle School, he met Laura Schnackenberg and they were married July 22, 2000.

He became a member of another family that he very quickly learned to love and enjoy as much as his own.

Duane and Laura enjoyed time spent watching grandchildren’s sporting events, taking long rides on the area’s logging roads, and spending time in their motor home. They also did quite a bit of traveling together.

One of the highlights of Duane’s life was being able to go on a mission trip with Laura to the Philippine Islands which he was on several times during his army years.

 The family would like to thank all the people who helped Laura and Duane during the final difficult times of Duane’s life, especially Lina, Jewell, and Lois Kay who made it all possible.

Services for Duane will be 11 a.m. Monday Feb. 27, 2012, at Libby Christian Church, 100 Kootenai River Road. 

There will be visitation from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday Feb. 26, 2012, at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home, 422 W 2nd St, in Libby.