Dale David Johnson

Dale David Johnson was born in Winder, Idaho, a small farming community north of Preston, on August 3, 1943. He was the second child and first son of David LeRoy and Enid Thomas Johnson.

Dale learned the value of hard work at a young age. By the age of 8, he was already driving tractors on his family’s 1400 acre ranch/farm. They had a Grade A Dairy Barn and milked 80 head of dairy cows each morning and evening. They also managed a large irrigated area and some dry land farming.

Dale attended school in a two-room school house from first to eighth grade; then he was bused into Preston, Idaho for ninth to twelfth grade. He graduated from Preston High School in 1961. He attended Utah State University for one year before receiving a mission call from David O. McKay to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was ordained an Elder by his father and served for two years in the British Mission under President Marion D. Hanks. His youngest brother was born just before he left on his mission. His brothers and sisters were: Geraldine, (Dale), Linda, Don, Bart, Myrna, LaRae, Jay, and Troy.

When Dale was released from his mission, he decided to experience crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a ship, the Queen Elizabeth. He returned to Utah State University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1969. During his last year at USU he met and married his wife, Merilyn Halling, in the Logan Temple on June 19, 1969. They just celebrated their 53^rd wedding anniversary.

Following graduation, Dale signed a teaching contract with the Beaverton Oregon School District and taught at Sunset High School. He started a Master’s Degree program at Oregon State University in
Corvallis, Oregon and graduated in 1972.

Dale decided that teaching was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, so they moved back to Utah where he eventually got a job at Utah Power and Light. He worked at the corporate office on North Temple and then was transferred to be a Cost Engineer for the construction of the Hunter Power Plant in Emery County, Utah.

After the completion of the power plant, they moved to Kaysville, Utah. Dale took an early retirement from Utah Power/Pacific Corp after 27 years with the company. He then worked for UTA and finally for Davis County Animal Services where he had a second retirement after 10 years.

Dale and Merilyn lived for 38 years in their home in Kaysville, where they raised their six children: Erica, Emilee, Teresa, Rachel, Effie, and David. All of their children worked as supervisors and managers at Lagoon where they earned money to pay for their college education. All six of them graduated from Utah State University. Each of their children are happily married. Dale and Merilyn have 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The family would like to thank LDS Hospital, the Life Care Center of Bountiful, and Atlas Homecare and Hospice Services for their compassionate care of Dale for the last few months of his life. He died at home surrounded by his wife and all of his children on December 3, 2022. He will be buried in the Kaysville City Cemetery.

Dale had a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He had always been so grateful for the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many capacities in the church over the years. He was always willing to provide service to those in need. He served for 14 years in the Bountiful Temple and always held an active temple recommend. The things that mattered most to him were: God, family, and country. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 10th at 10:00 AM at the Kaysville 10th ward, 1039 Crestwood Road, Kaysville. Family and friends may call Friday evening December 9th from 6:00-8:00 PM at Russon Mortuary & Crematory, 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, and Saturday morning from 8:30-9:30 AM at the church prior to services.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.