William Richard "Dick" Johnson

On June 30, 2024, our beloved dad and grandfather (Papa), left this world to be with God and to reunite with the love of his life and wife, Rosalie in heaven. 

Dick was born October 4, 1939, to John Clark Johnson and Marjorie Jones Johnson in Driggs, Idaho at Teton Valley Hospital. Marjorie gave birth to Dick three months early. Doctors told his mom and dad that their new tiny baby boy would probably not make it through the night. For the first three months, he slept in a shoe box that was placed on the open oven door. By the grace of God and his lion sized heart, Dick thrived through the next 84 years. 

Dick is preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie Lavina Johnson, father, John Clark Johnson, mother, Marjorie Jones Johnson, brother, Leon Johnson, grandson Laramie Joel Johnson, son-in-law, James Anthony Benefield. 

Dick is survived by daughter, Dawna LaRae Johnson Benefield, son, Darrin [Darla] Johnson, grandson, William Andrew Benefield, five of six brothers, Grant [Karen], Vaughn, Keith, James [Susan] and John [Annette] Johnson, sister in law's Yvonne Johnson and Marilyn [Dennis] Oakland and 33 nieces and nephews. 

After graduating High School, Dick enlisted in the Army National Guard and completed his tour January 1959. He was in the Army Reserve receiving an honorable discharge. Three of his grade school friends, Jerry [Jolene] White, Sheryl [Joyce] Benham and Paul [Maxine] Nichols were lifetime friends for almost 80 years. Paul and Maxine set Dick and Rosalie upon a blind date in 1960. It was a long-distance romance, because Dick was 3 hours away from Council driving a logging truck. Love kept them together and they married the following year. After the birth of their daughter, Dawna, Dick moved his little family into a camp trailer in Lowman, Idaho while he worked building bridges through out the mountain roads. His boss, Tom Close, counseled him to go to school to get an education in engineering. He attended Boise State University during the days while working as a night watchman for Ready To Pour Concrete. They lived in a single wide mobile home on the property. Rosalie gave birth to their son, Darrin and now the family was complete. In order for Dick to gain his degree, he needed to attend two years at Idaho State University in Moscow, Idaho. So he moved the family and trailer up North. Upon graduating, he accepted a draftsman job with Ready To Pour Concrete. Back to Boise they moved leaving the mobile home behind and moving into a house. Dick joined the Ada County Mounted Sheriffs Posse and knowing that Dawna loved horses bought her a horse to join a 4-H club. 

Dick was a magnificent father and tireless in his support of his children and he would haul Dawna and her horse to many horse shows, club practices, even competitions for princess and parades in Idaho and Utah. He also coached Darrin in wrestling, football, boxing and traveled with him to countless rodeos to help set his saddle in the bronc riding. Dick and Rosalie were always in attendance at both of their children's competitions. As a family, we would go camping and fishing and hunting. Dick's favorite camping spot was in Lowman at the same place they lived in 1962/1963. As Dick worked up the corporate ladder, he was a crucial part in the development of Ready To Pour Concrete into the multi state corporation Monroc Inc. 

Dick was known for his honesty, integrity, leadership and as a hard working man. Because he had gained that reputation, he was asked to move to the Plant in Salt Lake City, Utah to manage and rebuild the precast yard and batch plant. Both Dawna and Darrin would work for him at Monroc, at some point in their life. Dawna as a night watchman, Darrin would work during school breaks and summers on projects such the Vivint Arena, Hoover Dam Visitor Center. Dick's name is on a plaque in the Vivint Center for contributing to the construction of it. Dick, Rosalie and Darrin moved to Fernley, Nevada for a year to build the Sacramento Jail. It is a testament to Dick's work ethic and determination that he started as a night watchman and retired as the Vice President of Monroc Inc. Shortly before retirement, Dick and Rosalie moved back to Boise. After he retired, he still performed consultation for Monroc. Dick and Rosalie took many road trips, driving the longest highway in Alaska called the Alcan at 1387 miles, loading the truck and camping trailer on a train and traveling through out Mexico. They spent a lot of time boating and fishing at Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge and Anderson Ranch Dam. This led them into joining the Coast Guard with both of them certified in boating rescue and many other activities associated with boating. In 2009, Rosalie went in for a routine eye exam and was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma. This turned their world upside down. Without skipping a beat, Dick dropped everything and concentrated on Rosalie's care. He took the family on a trip to Hawaii in between her cancer treatments. Dick, Dawna and Darrin closed ranks around their beloved wife and mother, and she lacked for nothing that was in Dick's reach. In May of 2010, the love of his life passed away and there was not a day that he didn't miss her. Rosalie asked one thing of Dick, to accept Jesus as his savior and he did. He wanted no more than to be in heaven with his Rose. Dick never did anything halfway, so he read the Bible and had many questions which he would consult with Pastor Jim of Summit Church, where Rosalie attended. Many times he would pray with Dawna via the phone and he also watched Sunday services on TV from Summit Church. By this time he had moved to Twin Falls, Idaho where he was close to Darrin and Darla. Dick was once again an integral part of a fledgling business. He did "what ever it took" from biding jobs, finishing concrete, branding calves to baleing, stacking and feeding hay and operating Case Maxxum tractors (which he loved!), Dick was a giant among men. He was a mentor to all that met him. His influence upon this world will be sorely missed. 

On June 30th 2024, surrounded by his daughter, son, daughter-in-law, grandson and brother John, Dick slipped into a peaceful sleep and then let the Lord take him home. We love you dad and pray that you have found your love in heaven.

A funeral service will held on Thursday, July 11, at 11 a.m. at Summit Church, 10375 W Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83709. Viewing will be held at 10 a.m. prior to the service. 

A graveside committal service will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, 215 East Indianhead Road Weiser, Idaho 83672. 

Send flowers to 5400 Fairview Ave, Boise, Idaho 83706