Claus Lester Johnson

Claus Lester “Les” Johnson, 79 of Corvallis passed away Thursday, March 24th at the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center in Hamilton.

Les was born in Spirit Lake, Iowa on March 22, 1937 to the late Claus Jakob and Lydia Ethel Doughty Johnson.  Les attended Hamilton Schools graduating from Hamilton High School.  He attended the Montana Law Enforcement Academy for both basic and intermediate instruction.  He also attended a variety of Fire Investigation Seminars.

In 1954, Les joined the Montana Army National Guard in Hamilton and was officially fully retired in 1992.  Les also retired from the Missoula City Fire Department after 25 years of service.  He was working as a Fire Marshall until 1987.

He was a member of the Swedish Vasa Lodge, Rocky Mountain Model T Club, Hellgate Vigilante’s, Bitterroot Dusters and the Hellgate Civilian Shooters.  Les worked as a volunteer at the Daly Mansion, enjoyed hunting, the outdoors, leather working, machining and competitive rifle and pistol shooting.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Walter and Carl Johnson.

Surviving include his wife, Marie; daughters, Arleen (Bob) Long of Polson, June Johnson of CA, Kara (Pete) Bishop of Polson, and Linda (Bud) Martinich of Missoula.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 30th at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton.  Urn placement will take place at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula.  Military honors will be presented by the Montana Army National Guard, Hamilton American Legion and the Marine Corps League – Bitterroot Detachment.