Douglas Dean Johnson

Douglas Dean Johnson was born June 29, 1930 on the home place eighteen miles South East of Chadron to Carl and Elma Johnson, He was the only boy with three doting sisters Shirley, Carleen and Phylis. From a young age Doug learned to work hard from sunup to sundown for his father and he passed this work ethic on to his children. Doug went to a one room country school for his elementary years. After eighth grade he attended and graduated from Hay Springs High School. Shortly after graduating Doug joined the Army. He attended specialty training school in Fort Ord, California and because he was a proficient typer Doug became a unit supply specialist stationed in Alaska during the Korean War in the 93rd Field Artillery Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Battery B. After coming home from Alaska, he remained in the Army Reserves for the next eight years. Doug married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Toof while in the service. After he came home they lived on the farm working for his parents when his first two children Pam and Jeff were born. The couple then bought the DeWitt place south of Rushville and three more boys came into the mix. Doug Jr., Tim and Todd. With a wife and five children Doug had to find another job besides ranching, so he took a job at the Rushville Lumber Yard. While working for the lumber yard he hauled material and helped build new homes on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. From there Doug started working for the moccasin factory soon bought by Sun Bell where he worked for the next twenty-five years. He was very successful as a top salesman selling jewelry and moccasins. He loved giving his family moccasins, the females in the family had one of every color and he would often get out his jewelry cases to let family pick out something in turquoise or black hills gold. Another passion of Doug’s was cars. He was always buying a brand new vehicle.Unfortunately, Doug lost his first wife, Dorothy, from cancer. His second wife was Inez Crazybull. They had two children together Andrew and June. After Doug retired, he and Inez moved to the ranch south of Rushville for a short time, before Inez also passed from cancer. At this time Doug was very lonely, so he started writing pen pal letters. It was through those letters he met and married Rebecca Garcia Caburao, who would be his best friend and love, the one who would take care of him until his final days. Until his legs got weak, Doug could be seen on a four wheeler at 93 running around the place checking up on the work being done and often as not shouting orders or giving an opinion. He died of natural causes in the house, on the place that he loved, with Rebecca by his side, Thursday May 30, 2024 a few weeks short of his ninety-fourth birthday.Doug was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Elma, his sisters Shirley, Carleen and Phylis, his wives Dorothy and Inez and his granddaughter Janelle.. He is survived by his loving wife Rebecca, children Pamela Vargeson, Jeff (Ronni) Johnson, Doug (Candie) Johnson, Tim (Janet) Johnson, Todd Johnson (Anthony Quinones). Andrew (Roxane) Johnson and June (Valerie) Johnson and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.A celebration of life will be held at the American Legion in Rushville on August 17th at 1:00 PM with a luncheon to follow.

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