James 'Jim' D. Johnson, 80

James “Jim” D. Johnson, 80, passed away at his home on July 28, 2018.

James was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Rudolph and Isabel (Annen) Johnson on Aug. 3, 1937. Jim grew up playing lots of baseball and hockey in Minnesota. In his free time, he enjoyed activities such as camping, fishing and coaching baseball.

In his early adult years, Jim joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a seaman, but went on to Officer Candidate School and retired as commander. His career with the USCG took him to many places, starting out on a light ship off New York, to the Caribbean, onto the icebreakers in the Arctic and Great Lakes, and then on to Marine Inspection around the country. Following the USCG, Jim worked for a Marine Design Company in Seattle, taking him to many shipyards in the U.S., Singapore and the building of the General Jackson paddle wheeler for Opryland in Nashville.

Jim was also an accomplished fly fishing tyer, caster and rod maker.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph and Isabel Johnson.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Johnson, son Tim (Lisa) Johnson, daughter Christy (Randy) Bissen, granddaughter Laura Weist (Eddie), and great-grandchildren Zayden and Wyatt.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. today, Aug. 2, at Saint John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork. Burial will follow at the Bigfork Community Cemetery in Bigfork.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trout Unlimited or the Bigfork QRU.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family. Friends and family are encourage to visit www.bhfuneralhome.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.