JOHNSON
Keith Douglas
January 12, 1934 - Michichi, AB
- May 9, 2024 - Drumheller, AB
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, Keith Johnson. Keith, son of Doug & Laura (Hubbel) Johnson, was born in Michichi at the home of his Uncle Fos & Aunt Mary Johnson. He was always proud to say that he was a true native son of Michichi. He grew up on the family farm located north of Michichi and attended school in Michichi through to grade eleven, taking his final year in Drumheller. While in Drumheller he lived at The Dorm where he made many new and life-long friends. Keith excelled at school and received the Governor General’s Award in Grade nine for the Drumheller School Division and placed second in overall marks in grade twelve in Drumheller. Keith began his farming career following his high school graduation in 1952 and retired from farming actively in 2013. Throughout those sixty plus years he endeavored to keep up with changes in Ag practices and commodities. He was one of the first in the area to use bin grain dryers and was happy to share his knowledge of this technology with his neighbors. Keith started his electrical career in the fall of 1961, working alongside Jim Smith for Frank Todd in Delia. He earned his journeyman status in 1966 and achieved his Master Electricians Certification in 1980. Keith met his life partner, Gloria Battle, the summer of 1958, and they were married on April 2, 1960, at Knox United Church in Drumheller. Their first home was in Michichi then moving to their farm located east of Michichi where they lived until moving to Drumheller in 2002. Keith’s interests & hobbies were many and varied. His sport of choice was baseball, which he played until the time that the teams started to disband in the nineteen sixties. He played hockey for the Michichi team as well as for the Hand Hill Broncs. He took a correspondence course in radio repair and enjoyed fixing radios for family & friends. Keith enjoyed woodworking, local & Alberta history, geology, hiking, reading, camping, wildlife, and bird watching. He was a founding member of the Michichi Fire Department and served over twenty years as Fire Chief. Keith served time as president of the Michichi Community Association and was always a willing volunteer for any community projects. He was a Past Master of the Hand Hill Masonic Lodge, Secretary Treasurer of Dack Memorial United Church in Michichi and was on the Official Board of Knox United Church, serving for a time as Chair of the Stewards. He was a Scout leader and a member of the C2000 Club in Delia. He enjoyed spending time as a volunteer “People Mover” at the Badlands Passion Play. Keith will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Gloria, daughters Laurie (Elden) Jaffray and Karen Tanke (Paul). His five grandchildren, Andrew Mason (Tanya), Lance Tanke, Steve Mason (Michelle), Natasha (Danny) St. Yves and Alexander Jaffray. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Wayne Battle, and his sister-in-law, Elsie Battle as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Louise and her husband Ron Drury, and Gloria’s four sisters, two brothers and their spouses. A Celebration of Keith’s life will be held at Knox United Church, May 25, 2024, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Drumheller Area Health Foundation, 351 - 9 Street NW, Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y1 or Knox United Church, P.O. Box 583, Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y0
Courtney-Winters Funeral Home in care of arrangements. 403-823-2666.
