Harold Johnson

Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson

Harold Johnson, of Amarillo, was born on August 16, 1955 in Sidney, Montana and moved to Cut Bank, Montana as a child. At the age of sixteen, he went to work for General Motors as a mechanic and later managed a Phillips service station and a front-end alignment shop for several years before going to work for Phillips Oil Company, where he remained employed for twenty-five years. In 1980, Harold married Laurie Gaetano of Amsterdam, New York and they had two sons, Ryan and Travis. In 1986, Phillips transferred the family to Texas, where Harold worked as a chemical lab technician in Borger until 2005.

Growing up near Glacier National Park, Harold loved the outdoor life in the mountains, including fishing, camping, and backpacking. He was an avid Motocross competitor, winning numerous first place titles. He also loved both downhill and cross-country skiing. He was very engaged in his sons’ sporting events, including football, baseball, basketball, rollerblading, hockey, and wrestling. He spent many hours traveling the country to take his sons to wrestling tournaments. Harold had a great sense of humor and a kind spirit. He was a loving father and a loyal friend who would do anything he could to help another person and Harold knew how to do just about everything! If he did not know how to fix something, he would find out so that he could add to his numerous skills.

Preceding Harold in death were his parents, Raymond and Mae Johnson, and his sister, Anna Madsen.

His survivors include his two sons and their families, Ryan and Casey Johnson and Elyanah, and Travis Johnson and Nikki Bailey, Bishop and Brooklyn, all of Amarillo.  Others surviving him are the mother of his children, Laurie Valleriani, also of Amarillo, and his two brothers and their wives, Raymond (Sonny) Johnson and wife Lisa of Renton, Washington and Loren Johnson and wife Marlene of Helena, Montana.

Harold died at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo on April 8, 2020 after an illness of several months’ duration. No services are planned at this time, but at a later date the family plans to travel to Montana to scatter Harold’s ashes in the mountains that he loved all his life.  Harold will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

 

5 Replies to “Harold Johnson”

  1. To the Johnson family,

    First off to introduce myself( I am a first cousin of Harold. His mother Mae was my mother’s sister, her name was Ruth (Rider) Heck. Once the family moved from Sidney no one ever kept in the best of contact. My extremely heartfelt condolences. I am on Facebook if anyone is interested in getting connected and reconnected. Dennis Heck, Bismarck, ND

  2. To The Johnson Family
    I’m so sorry to hear of Harold’s Passing. I first met Him in Taft, California. We both were working for Phillips Petroleum. He had transferred there from Montana. Then we both transferred with Phillips to Dumas, Texas in 1986.. I’ll always remember him for being a hard worker and a good friend. Very down to Earth guy. Never forget the pictures of Montana he showed me, beautiful state. He will be sorely missed.

  3. Harold was a great dude, a hard worker, a smart man, and a good friend. I’ll miss talking to Harold he was a one kind.

  4. We will miss you Harold! Anyone who was blessed enough to meet him, will never forget him. He was kind and funny. Laurie, Ryan, and Travis im sorry for your loss. I know he was very proud of his boys and the way you guys turned out. Keep your heads up, because he’s smiling down on yall from heaven!

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