Deacon H.J. “Tubie” Johnson, who served Butte’s St. Ann Parish liturgically and reached out to help people in myriad ways, died on April 18 at St. James Healthcare in Butte. He was 74.

As a Cursillista, Deacon Johnson led Discovery weekends at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. He established a 12-step group that met at St. Ann Parish, helped Habitat for Humanity build houses for low-income people and helped the Paint the Town project paint Butte homes for residents in need.

Vigil services were on April 21 and the funeral Mass on April 22, followed by cremation. The Mass at St. Ann was concelebrated by Fathers Thomas Haffey, Gregory Burke, Frank Wright and John Robertson. Assisting were Deacons Ron Fournier and Dan McGrath, with whom Deacon Johnson was ordained on Sept. 10, 1992, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Butte. The three had studied together for the diaconate.

Deacon Johnson was born in Butte on July 2, 1935, to H.J. “Tubie” Johnson and Mary Johnson. In 1954 he graduated from Butte Central High School, where he was a team gymnast. He served in the Navy and the Marine Corps, and was a military reservist. On June 27, 1959, he married Dorothy “Dottie” Kruger.

Retired from a 32-year career with Montana Power Co., his first job was as a timekeeper for the Anaconda Co. He had worked as an orderly at St. James Healthcare, played semiprofessional hockey, was a partner in SouthWest Montana Business Systems and taught theology and computer science at Butte Central. He also worked for Butte’s Human Resources Council District 12.

He received the Montana Power Citizen of the Year Award. He was a Parent Teacher Association president, and a trustee for Camp Fire, the YMCA and United Way. He was a state pistol champion, an amateur boxer, helped form the Butte Amateur Hockey Association in 1975 and coached children in many sports. He enjoyed visiting California for games of the San Francisco 49ers, the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Raiders. Playing baseball, golfing, fishing and bowling were among his pastimes.

Deacon Johnson was preceded in death by his parents; by brothers Raymond, Richard, Bernard and Michael; and by sister- in-law Patricia.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years and by children Paula, Brenda, Michael, Rhonda and Lori Ann. Also surviving are sons-in-law William Willman and Doug Quandt; grandchildren Randi, Alexa, Matdysen, Briana, David Michael, Johnny, Alisha and Sarah; a brother, Jeremiah; and sisters-in-law Kay, Bonnie, Donna and Sandy.

Memorial donations may be given to St. Ann Parish, the Butte Emergency Food Bank or Our Lady of the Rockies.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 5, May 21, 2010.