Albert E. (Al) Johnson Jr.

(Dec. 16, 1921-Feb. 27, 2012)

Former Powell resident Albert E. (Al) Johnson Jr., a resident of Prineville, Ore., for the last 43 years, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012.

Private graveside services will be held.

Al was born in Lincoln, Neb., on Dec. 16, 1921, to Albert E. Sr. and Viola (Christiansen) Johnson. When he was a teenager, his family moved to the community of Willwood, where he graduated from Powell High School. He had many wonderful memories of times spent with friends riding horses in the McCullough Peaks, swimming in and ice skating on the Claudsons’ pond, hunting and fishing.

After enlisting in the Marine Corps, Al served in the South Pacific and Aleutian Islands during World War II. He was very proud to serve his country and kept a scrapbook of newspaper articles about local boys in the war.

Returning from the war, he met and married Hazel Verhelst. They drew a homestead through a lottery on Heart Mountain. After farming there some years, they sold and moved to the Willwood. Al built the home where they raised their family, farming there as well.

Years later, single again, he rekindled an old friendship and married his childhood friend, widowed Opal Claudson, in Kinnear on Aug. 1, 1968. They moved to Prineville in May 1969.

Al worked as a carpenter millwright for Coin Millwork, and later was a construction and backhoe operator for Ochoco Irrigation District. He used his knowledge and experience to help his family with all their projects, as well as many of his own. He loved the outdoors and spent his life enjoying it. Hunting, fishing, camping, and woodcutting were his favorite hobbies. Spending time with family was also important; he left them with many happy memories of these occasions together.

Al is survived by daughter Donna (Michael) Smith of Garden Grove, Calif.; son Wayne (Linda) of Bremerton, Wash.; stepdaughters Claudean (Tom) Green of Prineville and Beverly (Steve) McKinley of Soldotna, Alaska; stepsons Rommie (Joyce) Claudson of Cody and Garen Claudson and Rick (Tina) Claudson of Prineville; brother Ken (Anne) Johnson; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

His parents, wife, and a brother, LaVern Johnson of Powell, preceded him in death.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Prineville Funeral Home. The family has asked for condolences to be submitted at www.PrinevilleFuneralHome.com.