Donald Raye Johnson

After 4 years of a long hard battle with cancer, we announce with great sorrow the passing of our husband, father, Afi and long Afi at the age of 77 years on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Don was born in the St. Boniface hospital on October 2,1948 and was raised on the farm in the Bru District. He attended Cypress Valley School where be bragged that he was 1st in his class (he was the only one in his grade!) After consolidation he attended Cypress River School and went on to the University of Manitoba.

Don & Bonnie got married on March 9th 1968 and raised their family on the farm where everyone had the “pleasure” of working on the beef, grain and dairy farm. While farming, Don also drove to pick up cream from the US border to Saskatchewan and north and east of the farm for Inwood creamery.

Don`s passions were baseball, hockey, plus coaching hockey. Curling (only bonspiels!), hunting, trapshooting and golf!

After farming Don received his class 1 license and drove semi loads of mail to Vancouver, making two trips a week then 3 days off. He was also a volunteer cancer care driver for Central Plains Cancer Care out of Portage La Prairie. Don also started helping a trucker friend set up fireworks. He loved it, so he went to classes and got his license as a pyro technician so he could legally blow up stuff.

Don`s addiction to golf let us to buy a condo in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. It was conveniently located across the street from a golf course and centrally located to many other golf courses. This was a very happy place for him and Bonnie, being able to spend time in the warmth and still be able to golf. Together they made life long friends and golf buddies there.

Left to mourn his passing are his loving caring wife Bonnie, son Jeff (Lisa); children Kole (Tess), Kayla (Riley) children Dawson & Logan and Kassidy (Alex); son Eric (Tawney) children Tempel and Tobin; daughter Tracy (Kelly) children Lucas, Jeremia (Lauren) & child Lilianne, Natasha (Josh) & child Augustus and by sisters-in-law Diane Johnson, Willene Vertz & Verna (Bill) Mowat.

Don was predeceased by brother, Stefan, sister Lynda Johnson, parents Stieni & Paula Johnson, in-laws Bill and Marg Chewings, step father-in-law Glen Campbell, brothers-in-law George Vertz and Gordie Lindquist and sister-in-law Kathleen (Chewings) Crowson.

A Celebration of Don’s life will be held in the Willmor Chapel, Glenboro, MB, on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm with Tanis Podobni officiating.  Following the service, a reception will be held in the Cypress River Memorial Hall.  Everyone is welcome.

Memorial donations can be made in Don’s memory to Central Plains Cancer Services, 318 Saskatchewan Ave. E., Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 0K8.

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