James Richard Johnson

HAMILTON - James Richard Johnson was born on March 6, 1939 in Ronan, MT, the third son of Lester Johnson and Marjorie Eastep Johnson. He passed from this life on July 11, 2016, at his home in Hamilton, surrounded by love and his family.

Dad really liked to tell stories about his life experiences. He was good at it, and we loved to listen, gaining insight into who he was and how he thought.

As a boy, he began buying items, for example, newspapers and penny candy, reselling them to make a small, respectable profit. Everyone involved in the deal feeling like they got a good one, was central to his core belief. Buy right and sell fair.

Dad attended grade school in Moiese, MT. At a Jr. High track meet in Charlo, he met the beautiful Charlo farmer’s daughter that would later become the love of a lifetime; his wife of 54 years, Betty Hendricksen. Jim and Betty graduated from Charlo High in 1957. He set out to make his mark in the world­ quickly experiencing college life at Montana Eastern and Costa Mesa College in California. From there, it was off to Europe. He explored Iran, Italy, Germany, and Russia, chatting with the KGB on the train waiting to enter Poland ­ evidently his reselling of some items (Levis) to raise travelling funds was worth discussing. Thank goodness he was able to ask Betty, who was back home in MT at nursing school, for the funds to sail back to the United States on the Queen Mary II.

Jim and Betty married on September 2, 1962 in Charlo, MT. They lived in Missoula where Jim sold insurance for Farmers. Their daughters Maribeth and Cassie soon followed. Jim bought the Oxford Bar and Cafe with partner Glenn Davis. The history of the Ox and the nature of the business were exciting to Dad. His weekends were spent with his family on the West Fork of the Bitterroot, motorcycling, snowmobiling, elk hunting, fishing, boating, and telling wonderful stories around the fire pit. Dad and mom were known for their epic Fourth of July celebrations up at the cabin. Third daughter Marjorie came along and soon after, the family moved to Stevensville and eventually, Hamilton.

Dad’s greatest passion was his family, always taking time to attend sporting events, graduations, Johnson family reunions, sharing his many stories and adventures with us.  He was an independent thinker, strong willed and focused, and an entrepreneur who could read a person like a book. The lessons he taught us are invaluable. Thank you for the legacy of life and family.

Jim is survived by his wife Betty of Hamilton and three daughters; Maribeth Talia (Joe Butsick), John Talia and children James and Nikolas Talia of Corvallis, Cassie Toth (Jim), children Jackson and Emerald Toth of Bozeman, and Marjorie Huls (Dave), children Julia and Daniel Huls of Corvallis, and three brothers; Bill of Burlington, WA, Les of Rock Springs, WY, and Walt of Polson, MT. The family will conduct private services at a later date.