Donald (Don) G. Johnston, 81, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Friday, April 15, 2011, at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 19th at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant with Rev. Herbert Shafer officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Monday at the Murphy Funeral Home until 8 p.m. The family will not be present. Memorials have been established to the Math Department of Mt. Pleasant High School or to the March of Dimes, which took care of him when he had polio.
Don was born on June 6, 1929, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Roy M. & Mildred M. Rodgers Johnston. He graduated from Danville High School in 1947, and acquired two years of college credits from University of Arizona, Iowa Wesleyan and University of Iowa. He was united in marriage to Betsy A. McCabe on June 14, 1952 in Gladstone, Illinois. Don farmed most of his life and operated an insurance agency for 22 years before his retirement. He served for two years in the National Guard. He was a certified Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church, serving in Wayland, Wapello, Danville, Long Creek, Cantril and many others. He also served two terms as Parish President, thirteen years as church treasurer, and several times as conference delegate to the Annual Conference. He was also a former member of the Trenton and Winfield United Methodist Churches, and a current member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant. Don enjoyed woodworking, and fulfilled a lifelong dream in acquiring his pilot's license at the age of 64.
Don is survived by his wife Betsy of Mt. Pleasant and his children: LeAnn Farley (Sheridan) and Mark Johnston (Vicki) all of Mt. Pleasant, Mary Johnston (Dick Hines) of Solon, Iowa and Ruth Johnston (Shuji Moriichi) of Minneapolis, MN. 8 grandchildren: Justin Farley, Misti Johnston, Jason Johnston, Kayla Johnston, Adam Johnston, Tiffiny Johnston-Hines and Micah Johnston Moriichi. 8 great grandchildren. Three sisters: Arlene Mumme of Danville, Evelyn Morrison of West Burlington and LeAlta McGregor of Houston, Texas, one brother Lyle Johnston of Washington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Rita Gillis and one brother Cleo Johnston.
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