Vernon Pate Johnson

Vernon Pate Johnson, 81, of Shelley, passed away July 2, 2011 at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

Vernon was born April 23, 1930 in Arco, ID, to James Webster Johnson and Hortense Ellener Pate Johnson, the first son of four children.  Vernon also had an older brother & sister from his father’s first marriage.

He went to school in Moore, ID and was in the last graduating class of Moore High School in 1948.  He proposed to his sweetheart Yvonne H Farmer in May of 1949 on the night of her high school graduation.  They were married on Sept. 3, 1949 in Pocatello and they were sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple one year later.  After Yvonne’s passing in March 2008, he married Ann Stocks Andersen in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on December 27, 2008.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served as a counselor in a Bishopric, as a Stake High Councilman, five years as an Officiator in the Idaho Falls Temple, was a faithful home teacher, and served 45 years in the Boy Scouts of America.  In April of 1988 he was honored with one of scouting’s highest honors for leaders, the Silver Beaver Award, and in May of 1992 was honored with the George Meany Award for outstanding service to youth.

As a young man he herded cattle for his uncle on the Arco desert where he became acquainted with the early nuclear research activities of the Atomic Energy Commission.  He worked at what is now known as the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for 42 years.  He worked on the survey crew who laid out the streets for what is now the INL Reactor Technology Complex, and it is because of Vernon that all the streets at this facility are named after fish.

Vernon loved the outdoors and during many summers he took his vacation to run float trips on the main and middle fork of the Salmon River.  He was an outfitter for pack trips into the White Cloud Mountains in central Idaho.  One of his greatest passions was fishing for Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout.

He is survived by his wife Ann; children, Danny (Diane) of Shelley, Brad (Kathy), Connie (Lou) Aguilar both of Pocatello, LaRon (Raylene), and Todd (Jeannine) both of Shelley; three sisters, LouDene (Cecil) Pasder, Elaine (Lynn R) Frongner , Colleen (Kenneth W) Babcock; 17 grandchildren, JoLynn (Bart) Smith, Richard Johnson, Kristy (Mike) Skoy, Scott (Sabrina) Johnson, Douglas (Kristy) Johnson, Matthew (Stephanie) Johnson, Kyrsten Johnson, Mandie Parrill, Alex Aguilar, Adam Johnson, Michael (Jinger) Johnson, Celeste (Ryan) Berger, Ashley (James) Scheller, Chelsea, Jessica, Kendra, and Dustin Johnson; and 13 great grand children.  He also has five step children, 18 step grandchildren, and four step great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years Yvonne, parents, and two brothers; James Webster (Virginia) and Melvin (LaDene).

Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. July 8, at the Shelley LDS 2

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Ward, 325 East Locust St. with Brother D. Jay Stoddard officiating.  The family will visit with friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7 at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak in Shelley and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Friday before the services at the church.  Burial will be at 2 p.m. at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Arco.

The family suggests making donations to the LDS Humanitarian Aid or Temple Construction in place of sending flowers.