June 07, 1928 – July 03, 2025
at the age of 97 years:     

It is with more sadness than words can convey that we announce the passing of Gilbert Eber Johnson, who passed away peacefully at his home on July 03.  He is pre-deceased by his son, Douglas (Kathy), daughter Linda, and sons-in-law Al and Barry.  He is survived by his wife of 75 years Orma, daughters Gloria (Rick), Shirley (Jeff), Evelyn, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his oldest sister, Freda and youngest sister, Evelyn.

He was a favourite uncle to nieces and nephews and favourite Dad to our friends.  He was good humoured and loved to share a joke with his family and friends. His family was everything to him. He parented lovingly but as a child you knew when you had crossed the line when he would say “Do you remember Martin?  Then Martin up”.   A good friend of his, after hearing of his passing described him perfectly stating “Your Dad was a very important and influential part of my northern experience and I have many memories.  He was a man of great integrity and pure grit, having what it took to be successful in the things he did, both personally and professionally.  He touched many lives.”

He was born at the family farm in Frys, Saskatchewan in 1928.   He grew up in Saskatchewan but relocated to Salmon Arm to pursue a better future for his family.  His first job was “slinging beer” at the Montebello Hotel.  When he started working on the dozer and tugboats at Federated CO-OP mill in Canoe, he moved his family to BC in 1965.  During a strike at the mill he travelled to Mackenzie, BC and started working for a log salvage business clearing wood debris from Williston Lake, the man-made lake from the Bennett Dam.  He eventually bought the business and successfully operated and expanded this seasonal work for over 30 years.  It was a family business with his wife cooking, his son Doug was his right-hand man and his daughters and a few other valued employees and members of his family all working there until he retired in 1996.

At his request, there will be no Celebration of Life Service.