Garlen Johnson

Garlen Lyle Johnson was born on July 17th 1952, to Lyle Arthur and Esther Idonna Johnson in Oroville, California. He was the oldest of five children, with two brothers and two sisters.

He was a lifelong sports fan and was notoriously able to watch one game on television and have two other games playing on different radios at the same time (being able to tell you what was happening in each game).

He enjoyed scouting and earned his Eagle Scout award. He enjoyed many years as a leader in the scouting program.

When he was nineteen, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Hong Kong, China and grew to love the Chinese culture and some of their food.

He attended Ricks College and BYU after his mission. When he took a break from his education, he moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho with his family. This is where he met Cynthia Kerr, in their Stake Young Adult Program. He married Cindy in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 25th 1976. A year later they moved to Provo, Utah where he was to continue his education.

The couple’s oldest child was born in January of 1978. When Garlen wasn’t in classes, he was often seen with his baby girl at the baseball field, a burp rag tucked into his back pocket, a bottle in one hand and the baby carrier in the other. He loved BYU Baseball, Football and Basketball.

Garlen graduated with a major in General Business and a minor in Accounting. He began his career at Klemp Corporation, where he worked diligently in the office for thirty-one years.

Gar and Cindy had two boys and three girls and also added Cindy’s niece to the family. Garlen had a love of most sports and was known to hardly ever miss one of his children’s T-Ball, Baseball or Soccer games.

He was an active member of the Church, holding many different callings; Cub Master, Den Leader, Webelos Leader, Financial Clerk, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Elder’s Quorum Secretary and 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric.

He loved the church and had a solid testimony of its teachings and his children knew it. He tried to instill a love for the scriptures and a great sense of duty towards work, church and life.

Before he got too ill, he consistently enjoyed spending his Labor Day weekend at the Mountain Man Rendezvous in Fort Bridger, Wyoming. He loved seeing movies (in the theatre with popcorn) and eating out.

For a number of years he had been dealing with health issues stemming from diabetes and kidney failure. We are grateful that he no longer has to deal with these illnesses.

Garlen is survived by his parents, Lyle and Idonna, his brothers and sisters; Gregg (Amy) Johnson, Raquel (Stan) Franklin, Bryan (Lori) Johnson, Stephanie (Steve) Christiansen. His wife, Cynthia Kerr Johnson, and their children; Leeonna (Carlos) Colorado, Kellan G. Johnson, Sharee Price, Messina (Taylor) Stewart, Kayley (Jairo) Morales-Johnson, and Nathan Lyle Johnson. His grandchildren: Bailey Stewart, Cooper and Piper Price and Teo and Skye Morales-Johnson.

For those unable to attend the service they can be viewed by clicking HERE .

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

Send a meaningful gift