Owen Ray Johnson passed away Sunday, January 8th, 2023, at his residence in Hotchkiss, CO. He was 83 years old. Owen was born on September 16th, 1939, to Ethel Irene (Nelms) and Elmer Boyd Johnson in Bartley, NE. He went to school in McCook (NE) and graduated from McCook High School in 1958. He continued his education in Milford, NE and earned an associates degree in electronics. After graduating from Milford, he worked at Martin-Marietta in Denver, where he worked helping to build the space exploration program in the 1960’s. On March 2nd, 1963, Owen married L’Jeanne Hixson in Delta, CO. The couple had three sons and remained married until her death in 1976. On March 26th, 1977, Owen married Wilma Allen in Hotchkiss. They were married for 41 years until her death in 2018. From 1984-1990, he attended and worked at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, ND. Upon receiving his ministerial certificate, he pastored New Life Assembly of God in Mancos, CO and was later the general manager of Camp Cedaredge before becoming ordained with the Pentecostal Church of God. He worked in the coal mines in the Somerset area for many years. He also delivered petroleum fuel, drove school bus, had different truck driving jobs, and sold eggs. He called himself “a jack of all trades but a master of none.” He enjoyed welding, woodworking, his chickens, hunting, the outdoors and was a farmer at heart. He was involved at various points in his life in the Royal Rangers,4H, and Gideon’s International. Owen never met a stranger and could (and would) walk up to anybody and talk to them like he’d known them his whole life. Owen is survived by his three sons: Boyd (Connie) Johnson of Detroit Lakes, MN; Darrel Johnson of Hotchkiss, CO; Dell (Lynette) Johnson of Delta, CO; daughter Diane (Jason) Bursack of Fargo, ND; sisters: LaNora Palmateer of Bartley, NE, and Elda (Harley) Shields of McCook, NE; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Owen is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Darrel Johnson, his first wife L’Jeanne Johnson, his second wife Wilma Johnson, stepson Brian, and his grandson Evan Johnson. Memorial donations can made in his name to Gideon’s International. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, April 2, 2023 at Hotchkiss Memorial Hall from 2pm to 4 pm.

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