Willie Johannesen

Willie Johannesen, 81, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2014, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2014, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Linda Rose officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Willie's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Willie was born on April 26, 1933, in Malta to Peder and Naomi (Shields) Johannesen. He was raised in Loring, attending Loring schools early on, graduating from Malta High School. For several years after high school graduation, Willie managed a service station in Malta. He married Gail Plouffe on June 11, 1955, in Malta, and the couple made their home there for several years. They moved to Harlem in 1971, where Willie worked for AC Supply until they shut down, when he moved to John Deere. In 1977, he began working for Tilleman Motor Co. in Chinook. Tilleman's moved to Havre in 1979, and Willie and his family followed in 1980.  He retired from Tilleman's in the late 90's, and after retirement, he kept busy raising his garden. 

  Willie was an outgoing man who made friends easily. He enjoyed hunting rabbits in the winter with Wally Henry, meeting with his Coffee Club every day, discussing things that needed discussing, visiting former co-workers at work, and doing his yard work. He was quite the funny man who always had a joke for you.

  Willie was preceded in death by his parents, Peder and Naomi Johannesen; his great-grandson, Kellen Lund; his sisters, Margaret Lake and Mildred Tuma; and his beloved niece and nephews.

He is survived by Gail, his beloved wife of 59 years, of Havre; his son, Jim (Jill) Johannesen of Havre; his daughter, Cindy (Terry Leonard) Kimberling of Havre; his six grandchildren; his 12 great-grandchildren; his brother, Iver Johannesen of Loring; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.