Thomas Johnson

Thomas S. Johnson, age 58, of Miles City "returned to the mother ship" on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at Riverstone Hospice in Billing, Montana due to renal failure.

Tom was born in Morganton, North Carolina on February 24, 1953, the son of George Johnson and Gazzie (Kiser) Johnson. He was raised in Morganton, North Carolina where he also attended school. As a typical southern boy he spent his teenage years getting into "trouble" with his buddies Carl and Jerry on the outer banks. In the spring of 1975 he met his soul mate Ann Dobson. He made her his wife on July 3, 1976. During the course of their marriage they were blessed with three gifts of life, Llia, Mandy and Steve who gave him his passion in life. He provided for his family by working many numerous jobs. He was a trucker, cashier, maintenance man, and also worked in the textile industry. Always on the move the family had lived in not only North Carolina but also Germany, Canada, and New York. It was not until 1989 that the family vehicle broke down in Miles City, Montana and it became home.

During his time in Miles City he enjoyed many MANY adventures with family and friends. Whether it was storm chasing out in the boonies or cutting donuts in the old Buttrey´s parking lot with Riggs the man knew how to show his friends and family a good time and keep them on their toes. It was in 1992 that he injured his back and became disabled. During the next few years many changes happened. He needed to find other ways to have adventures. He loved fishing with Rich, searching for "Old Dodges" with Rex, and "shooting the breeze" with Dale and Larry.

In 1998 the family moved to Rosebud, Montana. It was here that he left his mark. He LOVED Rosebud! Some of his favorite things to do was to host "Nitro Parties" (Professional Wrestling for those that don´t know), take the "kids" bowling (this meant every kid in town), and to go to the Wrangle basketball games. He treated most of these "kids" like they were his own. If one of them needed something then he would try his best to help in whatever way he could. He enjoyed many nights talking to "Anderson", Willy, Luke, Joanie, Sheena, Bebbis, and all the other kids that would come over. He loved learning from the Foreign Exchange Students and many became his Foreign Children. One of the best times he had was camping. Whether it was Fort Peck, Cooney, Decker, or Yellowtail, he would take as many of the kids as possible. Showing the Foreign kids the hillbilly way of camping was one of the many adventures he also loved and Suzy, Sara and Craig still remember.

Later in life he was blessed with his first grandchildren, Dahlia and Nico. He spared no expense to make sure that they had everything they wanted. They showed him how it was to be a kid again. He would constantly tease Nico and Dahlia about what was for supper... it was always possum or Taco Johns which never went over well. They would always tease and go on with another. The one thing that they always teased about was him shaving his hair. He enjoyed buying the wigs during Halloween and dressing up with them to make them laugh. He loved making them laugh! He held each of them when they were babies and would constantly fall asleep with them in his chair or on the bed. Tom was a dog lover. Bandit was HIS dog for almost 17 years and passed away on April 25, 2011. No dog could have ever have taken Bandits place but Tom found another companion in his Jack Russell "Terror", Vegas. His family, friends and dogs were a constant source of joy in his life, and he rarely ever wore a frown.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Johnson; his children Llia (Jeremy) Hawkins of Miles City, MT; Mandy Johnson (Josh Schneider) of Covington, GA; and Steve Johnson US Navy Bremerton, WA; grandchildren: Dahlia and Nico Willis of Forsyth, MT; mother, Gazzie Johnson of Morganton, NC; half-brother Wayne Kiser (Andrea) Morganton, NC; he is also survived by his faithful companion Vegas; many friends and adopted family: Harms, Felice, Hahne, Mogen, Anderson, Morrison, Beyle, Frost, Hanson, Silvers, Rudolph, Riggs, Knutson, and of course his foreign families: Sasse, Kofoed, Marinho, McFadyen. He is preceded in death by his father, George; and beloved companion Bandit.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 24, 2012 with family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.