Dennis R. “Smokey” Johnson, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. A memorial service and time of sharing will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Ladbury Funeral Service, inurnment will take place at a later date at Dickinson Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. and continue until 2 p.m., Saturday.
Dennis was born November 19, 1941 at Brinsmade to Raymond and Ruth (Solberg) Johnson. He attended country schools in the Brinsmade area and graduated from Leeds High School in 1959. Smokey went on to earn his degrees from Minot State College in math and physical education. During his college days, Smokey lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. After graduation from Minot State College in 1963, he coached at Maddock High School until 1965. Smokey married Eileen Ehreth on June 25, 1965 at Bismarck. Together they moved to Morehead, Minn, where he continued his graduate studies. With his family, he move to Bottineau where he coached and taught at Bottineau Jr. College for two years. Smokey taught for one school year (1968) at Patrick Henry High School, Minneapolis, Minn. In 1969 , he and his family moved to Dickinson where he taught and coached at Dickinson High School for the next nine years. After ending his teaching and coaching career he began a career as a certified financial planner, retiring in 2004. The one constant in Smokey’s life was his love for sports and his family.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen, Dickinson; one daughter, Carla (Kyle) Schaeffer, Dickinson; one son, Craig (Kelly), Savage, Minn.; two grandsons, Ben and Daniel Johnson; two sisters, Marilyn (John) Conway and Corrinne (Jim) Boyer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Boyd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial be given in Smokey’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice.
