Walter W. Johnson

Walter W. "Mike" Johnson U.S. Army Retired 9/4/1934 - 1/19/2014. Passed away on January 19, 2014, after fighting a courageous battle with an incurable blood disease. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska to his parents Tom and Neta Johnson. His home for approximately 23 years was where ever the military sent him, including 2 tours in Vietnam. Probably the most enjoyable tour was with the ROTC Unit at South Dakota University in Brookings, South Dakota teaching military science to the Cadets. Upon his military retirement, he returned to Spokane and worked for the City of Spokane Water Department until his retirement there in 1996. He enjoyed golfing with his son and grandsons and attending his granddaughter’s athletic games. Camping with an RV group was a highlight in the summer months. Mike enjoyed working with wood and made many bird houses and other small wood projects. He also liked to fish – he must have collected enough fishing poles to equip a small army! He had a love affair with his 2004 Chevy truck – it was always clean and out of the weather. Last summer, Mike took a dream cruise to Alaska with family and friends, a reunion with his brother and sister, and the greatest gift at Christmas, was the announcement he was to be a Great Grandfather in 2014. Mike was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara; brother, Jake; sisters, Elizabeth and Aileen. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Margret (Maggie); son, Johnny (Cheryl); and grandchildren, Leah, Kyle, and Bryan (Vanessa); sister, Neta, brother, Tom (Donna); and as he would say, “skads of nieces and nephews!!” We would like to thank Dr. R. Laugen and his great staff at the Cancer Care Northwest for all their help and kindness. A special thank you to the whole staff on 1 North at Valley General Hospital for taking care of him during all the transfusions he had to endure this past year. We would welcome any verbal stories/comments during the service or written comments to be read by Pastor Bob Smith. Visitation will be held on January 27, 28, and 29th from 9:00am to 4:00PM at Riplinger Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held on February 8, 2014 beginning at 10:00am at RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY 4305 N DIVISION SPOKANE, WA. Everyone is invited to attend the full military honors at Fairmount Memorial Park Cemetery following the funeral service. From there we will have a “Celebration of Life” for Mike at the Eagles Lodge 16801 E. Sprague Ave., in the Spokane Valley.