Lester L. Johnston 1926 - 2017

JOHNSTON, CARPENTER, VARNER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/19/2017 at 11:35:04

Sioux City Journal
19 February 2017

SIOUX CITY | Lester L. Johnston, 90. of Sioux City, passed away Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at Countryside Nursing Home.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Lester donated his body to the University of South Dakota Medical Department. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Lester was born on July 21, 1926, in Conde, S.D., the son of Raymond and Venia (Carpenter) Johnston. He later moved with his family to Canton, S.D. and eventually to Sioux City.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Naval Reserves in the Pacific Theater. He served on a LST 860 and the USS Doyle C. Barnes. After coming home, he married Vivian Varner on Jan. 24, 1948 in Correctionville, Iowa.

For a number of years, he served as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts Troop 207 and volunteered at the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association and Hospice of Siouxland. He was a member of St. James United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his sons, Lyle (Paulette) of Jackson, Mo., Raymond (Linda) of Sioux City, and Gaylan (Ann) of Salix, Iowa; a daughter, Karen (Norman) Stanislav of Blencoe, Iowa; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Vivian; two sisters, Ruth and Norma; and one brother, Earl.