Carl Martin Johnson

Carl Martin Johnson of Bear River, WY died on 10 January 2025 at the University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City due to complications of a brain aneurysm. 

Carl was born 20 May 1954 in Payson, Utah to Willis Heber and Norma Matilda Hanks Johnson. He grew up the youngest of 6 children in Spanish Fork Utah. He was raised on hard work, ole country bluegrass and chivalry. He learned the piano, guitar, harmonica, clarinet and had a sweet tenor voice. 

He was compassionate and tender, with a side of mischievous playfulness. He was very proud of his Icelandic ancestry and enjoyed telling about his family history. He had a remarkable ability to connect with people, creating lifelong friendships wherever he went. Carl attended Spanish Fork High School. He was involved in football, basketball, swimming, and track & field where he went to state in pole vault.

 At 19 he served in the Japan Sendai mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He always had a deep testimony of and profound love for his Savior, Jesus Christ. On scholarship, Carl studied drafting, design engineering, and accounting at Utah Technical College and mechanical engineering at Utah Valley Community College. He earned certificates in real estate and loan processing. And graduated top of his class from the Police Academy at the age of 64. 

He was a Petty Officer in the Navy Reserves serving from 1989-1997. Carl married Gaile Robertson in the Manti UT temple on 3 December 1976. Together they had 3 children, Trevor, Tim, and Ashley. They divorced in 1990. 

Carl married his high school sweetheart, Donna Lynne Eversole and on 22 February 1992, they were sealed in the Logan UT temple. Carl adopted Donna’s five children, Jamie, Brianne, Heidi, Lynde, and BeauDee and was also sealed to them. Carl and Donna combined their family as one and raised them as such. They made their home in Bear River WY on a homestead they called “Belly Acres” raising not only kids, but chickens, pigs, horses, goats, cats, and dogs.

 Carl had a never-ending list of projects and notebooks full of original ideas and sketches. He was always designing and creating things. One of his greatest accomplishments is his patented wind power generator and water pump turbine (aka- the windmill). In recent years, Carl has enjoyed building his greenhouse and gardening, raising chickens (especially his special pets, Prissy and Connie), and trying to satisfy his insatiable thirst for knowledge.

 He is preceded in death by his mother Norma, father Heber, brother Merrill and wife Donna. 

He is survived by his sisters, Rhea Jean (Darnell) Hancock of Spanish Fork UT, Aleen Lamb of Lexington OK, Janiel Orton of Salem, UT and Verna Dallin of Springville UT, children Jamie D. Johnson of Evanston WY, Trevor Sean (Angela) Johnson of Greeley CO, Timothy Logan Johnson of Roy UT, Brianne (Henry) Schnitker of Union Star MO, Heidi Marie (Denee) Rex of Woodruff UT, Ashley Marie (Danny) Hall of Cedar City UT, Lynde May Childs of Evanston WY, and BeauDee Lynn Johnson of Evanston WY. He is the proud grandpa of 27 grandchildren: Harley, Savannah, Colton, Derek, Dustin, Avery, Brenden, Noah, Nathan, Matthew, Emily, Jacie, Ryker, Ander (aka- Deeds), Apryl, Justin (aka-Buckwheat), Azilyn (aka- Kuiper), Tolson, Holland, Brynja, Denrik, Rylee, Ryden, Rogun, Rhett, Remington, Delynn, and 4 great grandchildren, August (aka- Gus), Sophie, Maeve, and Tylan. 

A viewing will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 251 Elm St. Evanston, WY on Friday, 17 January 2025 from 6:00-8:00pm.

 Funeral services will ensue the following day, 18 January 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 251 Elm St. Evanston, WY with a viewing from 9-10:30am.

 The funeral will begin at 11:00am. Interment will be at Spanish Fork Cemetery following funeral services, 3:00pm. 

Rest in peace beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. May you find yourself busy in God’s work in heaven and watching over us here on earth.