Bryce Johnson
Bryce Arle Johnson went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 21, 2012. Born October 21, 1937, Bryce was the second born son of Arle (Swede) and Bessie Mallory Johnson of Polson. He and his brother Elliot grew up on the south shore of Flathead Lake where they fished, hunted, took summer swims and went winter ice skating.
Bryce graduated from Polson High School in 1955. He attended the University of Montana before he landed his dream job working in the accounting office for the Great Northern Railroad in Whitefish. He married Ardith Cox June 5, 1965, and the two moved around the state of MT. where he had an enjoyable and challenging career with Great Northern/Burlington Northern Railroad. The couple raised two sons, Corey and David, while they lived in Kalispell, Whitefish, Missoula, Billings, and Havre. After Bryce retired in 1994, he eventually returned to his home town of Polson. Bryce enjoyed spending time with his family, playing cards, bowling, golfing, and traveling around the United States to view God’s amazing creation. He was a tremendous husband, encouraging father, loving grandfather. and a faithful servant in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church.
Bryce lived with Type I Diabetes for 58 years and courageously endured numerous health problems. Over the last 9 months Bryce battled cancer. Through all of this, Bryce gave glory to God for being able to live so many years surrounded by such a supportive and loving family.
Bryce was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Ardith, his son David Johnson of Spokane, his son Corey Johnson, daughter-in-law Audrey, and grandsons, Jacob and Isaac of Kalispell, his brother Elliot (Hattie) Johnson of Polson, his step-mother, Marie Johnson of Polson, Randy and Julia, his children from a previous marriage, as well as numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Services for Bryce will be held Thursday, January 26, 2012,at 11:00am at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, followed by a burial service at Polson’s Lake View Cemetery, and a luncheon in the fellowship hall of the church. The family suggested memorials to the donor’s local food bank, or to Bryce’s cancer support group: Cheerful Heart, Inc. P. O. Box 688, Polson, MT 59860.
The staff of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for the Johnson family. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
Dear Sis and family,
Our deepest sympathy to you on the loss of Bryce, husband, father and grandfather. May God’s peace be with you,
Your loving brother,
Ed and Helen Cox
Dear Ardith and family.
Our condolences for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Jerry and Peggy do not have e-mail so I am sending sympathy from them too.
Ardith and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. May God protect you and give you strength.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Much love,
Ronnie and Larry
Dear Ardith, Corey, Audrey & boys,
All your friends from your Trinity family are thinking of you with prayer. May God grant you all peace in knowing that Bryce is now with Him.
Love,
Connie & the rest of your Trinity family
I worked with Bryce when I first began my railroad career in 1966 upstairs in the Whitefish Depot. I liked him very much and as he moved off and on in his career
I sort of kept track. I was the local chairman for the engineers in Whitefish when Bryce was in charge of handling many of our agreements. He was always honest and straight forward and worked hard to do the right thing by the company and the men who worked for it. I will miss him but will think of him often and fondly as I have since he retired. John
Dear Ardith and family
Please accept my deepest sympathies at this sorrowful time, and pass on my sentiments to your children. Let them know their father was held in high regard by all who knew him.
With sadness,
Leo A. Metz
Class of 1955
My deepest sympathy extends to the family. My thoughts are with you during this time, he was one great guy and as John always said, it is a joy to work with Bryce in the Accounting Office.
God Bless each of you……….Rose
Dear Aunt Ardith and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Big hugs for all.
Love,
Paul and Nicole
So sorry we cannot be there. Sending a thousand hugs and prayers your way!
Ardith and family-So sorry for our great loss! What a super guy! We have talked about many fun stories of Bryce. So sorry we can’t be with you all at this difficult time. Know that we are with you in heart and spirit.
Dear Ardith, Dave, Corey,Adurey & sons,
We wish to express our deepest sympathy on the loss of Bryce. He was a great person and we have many fond memories of him, Roger has been remembering some of his trips to Montana with stories of he and Bryce. We know this is a difficult time and wish with all our hearts that we could be with your family at this time. May God grant you peace in knowing that Bryce is now with Him.
Love to you all,
Roger & Tere Cox
Ardith and all the family – Thinking and praying for you from afar – wish I could be there for you. Bryce was an awesome guy! Love to all – Sandy
Dear Aunt Ardith and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Although many states seperate us, let that distance be filled by all our prayers and love.
Love,
Roger J.
Dear Ardith & family, So sorry to hear of Bryci’s eternal sleep. May the Lord comfort you & your family durng your time of sorrow. I wish we lived closer as adults, as we had so much fun playing on the “jumbo” in Roanoke when we were kids!
Perhaps you can come visit your brother Ed & we can get together then! Hopefully Donna & I can visit you next year after she retires as office mgr. @ Trinity Lutheran Ch. here in Peoria IL. We do plan on traveling after she retires. Again, may our Lord bless & keep you, & comfort you and your family in the lonesome days ahead. Take care & keep in touch.
Love,
Ed & Donna Winkler
Ardith and family,
Our prayers are with you today. Bryce was pivotal in my life as a former employee. He wasn’t ‘just a boss’, he was also a friend and mentor. We can remember the birthday party we celebrated together in Havre when Joyce turned a ‘big “50″‘.
I thank God for him being part of my life with BN/BNSF.
Very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Hu & Patsy
Ardith–
So sorry to hear of Bryce’s passing. You both were such great neighbors in Billings. We are sending you hugs…