Carmen Marie Johnson

Carmen Marie Johnson, passed from this life on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in West Valley City, Utah at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness. Carmen was born on May 27, 1930 in Rexburg, Idaho, to Dale C. and Lucille F. Garner, and was the oldest of three children. She was named “Carmen” because her parents thought it was a beautiful name. Her middle name was after her aunt Marie.

Carmen was married to Donald L. Johnson on November 12, 1947 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They had five children. She and Don were later divorced. Carmen was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings during her lifetime.

Carmen spent her early years on a farm in Western Idaho. She was familiar with farm animals and farm equipment and could ride horses and drive a team at a very young age. She helped her family plant, cultivate and bring in crops that supported her family. She attended Nampa High School in Nampa, Idaho. She told her children stories about the cold winters back in Rexburg. Her favorite story was about the winter she walked to and from her aunt’s house without having to go through fence gates because the snow was so deep nobody could see the fences. She did not like cold weather.

She was a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked for many years at the Pioneer Nursing Home in Brigham City, Utah. She later worked at the Doxey Hatch Surgical Center in Salt Lake City until her retirement.

Carmen lived in her parents home as they grew older. She showed them great love and devotion during their last years and assured them that their final years would be spent in the home they loved. She continued to live in that home until shortly before her passing. She spent the last two years of her life in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Ron Montgomery. They gave her the care she needed during that time and the assurance that her final days would be spent in their home where she was greatly loved. She passed from this life peacefully after visiting with many family members.

Carmen had a great love for her family and was very proud of her children. She was affectionately known as “Grandma Carmen” to 29 grandchildren and 90 great-grandchildren. Many family members called or visited her often in her home and in the home of her daughter just to tell her they loved her. She always appreciated those visits.

She loved to spend free time in Island Park, Idaho, first with her parents and children, then later with her grandchildren and their children. Many of those times were spent with fifty or sixty family member together for meals and activities. She was an accomplished fisherman. She loved to find wild trout where they lived in the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. She fished with her family, and she fished alone. She waded the river into her early 80’s with an inflatable boat tied to her in case she slipped. She floated that river in rubber boats many of times in a flotilla of family members. She will be greatly missed when the family returns to Island Park.

Carmen loved her family. Each child, grandchild and great-grandchild have fond memories and special recollections about her and how she has touched their lives for good. It seems to be the simple acts of kindness and tenderness that has created a special place in the hearts of those she loved.

She had many friends in the Harvestland Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near her home in Taylorsville. She loved them and they loved her. She was faithful in her callings and loved having her visiting and home teachers in her home. The last years of her life were spent in a wheelchair but she would not miss church meetings or visiting with her friends on Sunday.

The last years of her life were difficult, however, even though she was in pain and discomfort much of the time, she kept her sense of humor and was always positive and grateful to those who helped her and visited her. She was an example to all of us as she faithfully endured to the end.

Carmen is survived by her children, Doug (Cathy) Johnson, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Sue (Ron) Montgomery, of West Valley City, Utah, Steven Johnson, of Central City, Nebraska, Larry (Rebecca) Johnson, of Las Vegas, Nevada and Chuck (Vickie) Johnson, of Layton, Utah - 29 grandchildren and 90 great-grandchildren, her sister, Patricia Middlebrook, and brother, Richard (Peggy) Garner.

A public viewing will be held Thursday, May 2nd, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Rd, West Valley City, Utah. Another viewing will be held on May 3rd, at the Harvestland Ward building, 3120 West 4700 S. West Valley City, from 10:00 to 10:45 am followed by a funeral service beginning at 11:00 am. Interment will be Saturday, May 4th, at 1:00 pm in the city cemetery at Rexburg, Idaho.

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