Gale R. Johnson, 76

Gale R. Johnson, 76, passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Memorial services will be conducted later in the spring.

Gale was born Sept. 13, 1932, in Sandpoint,  the son of Frank and Hilma Johnson. He lived in Kootenai, Idaho, all his life and graduated from Sandpoint High School.

Gale served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

His first job was on Cabinet Gorge Dam on the Clark Fork River.

During the summers he spent time working for the Forest Service and the rest of his time in various sawmills.

His hobbies were fishing, hunting and he was an avid skier, skiing many places in the Northwest. After his health stopped him from skiing, he began taking pictures of wildlife.

Gale had health problems for several years and then entered the Life Care Nursing Home in Sandpoint on Oct. 10, 2008.

He is survived by his brother, Harold Johnson of Lewiston, Idaho; and several cousins from Idaho and California.

Family and friends are invited to sign Gale Johnson’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneralservice.com .

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.