Richard Lee Johnson

Sept. 11, 1959 — March 6, 2017

Richard Lee Johnson, 57, of Lebanon passed away Monday, March 6.

Richard was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Sept. 11, 1959. His family moved to Circle, Montana, where he was a basketball star for the Circle Montana Wildcats and scored a winning basket in the last seconds of a major game. The family moved to Big Fork, Montana, where continued being a basketball star for the Big Fork Vikings in 1976-77.  He graduated from big fork in 1978. After high school Richard spent time in the U.S. Army where he learned to be a lineman.

Richard was a lineman for LA county and traveled with several companies but his favorite was Henkle and McCoy as a lineman. He started working for Pacific Telephone (known now as Centurylink) in 1986 in Chiloquin, Oregon.  He moved to Lebanon around 1991 where he worked until his illness prevented him from it in June of 2010. He worked for Centurylink for 25 years.

Richard was passionate about farming, riding his Harley and fishing.

Richard is survived by wife Sherry Johnson; stepdaughter Tara Hiljus; son Jesse Johnson; daughter Rebekah and husband Dan Simpson; daughter Desiree Johnson; stepson Charles Links; stepdaughter Dani Links; sisters Cheryl Johnson, Lisa Braken and Brenda Johnson; grandchildren Jordan Simpson, Owen Simpson and Madelyn Simpson; mother Carol Johnson; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Johnson Sr.

A celebration of life will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the American Legion Post 51 in Lebanon.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).