Dewey County Obituary
Sunnyside Cemetery

aka Vici

ERNEST JOHNSON

7 Aug 1924 - 26 Jan 2011

© Woodward News
January 28, 2011
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Ann Weber

Woodward, Okla. — Funeral services for Ernest Johnson, 86 year old Vici resident, will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 29, 2011 at the Faith United Methodist Church of Woodward with Reverend Herb Bridgewater and the Reverend Aaron Martin officiating. Interment will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery East of Vici. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home, Woodward.

Ernest Elmer Johnson was born August 7, 1924 to Lee B. and Nina (Snodderly) Johnson in the old rock house south of Vici. Heaven’s gates opened for Ernest on January 26, 2011. Ernest grew up on the family farm southeast of Vici along with his siblings, Edith and Fred. He started his education at Banner Country School, a mile and a half from the family home. He graduated from Vici High School in 1942. Even though his formal education ended at 12th grade he delighted in always reading and studying with an emphasis on Biblical studies. Ernest received greetings from his local draft board in May 1942. He celebrated his 18th birthday on a troupe ship bound for England. Our country was at war, and Ernest was very proud to serve. He hit the beaches of France on D-Day +3. When the war ended, he continued to serve in Europe for another year. After many experiences, he was released to come to the States in the Fall of 1945 and was Honorably Discharged on January 17, 1946.

May of 1946 Ernest’s sister Edith, being a matchmaker, introduced him to Mildred Grunewald at a Gospel Sing. They were married in the home of Lee and Lahoma Grunewold of Woodward. on December 29, 1946. Three children were born to them, Elmer Lee, Shirley Kay, and Pamela Ann. To help support their farm income Ernest custom harvested from 1951 to 1981. He went from Texas to South Dakota following the wheat harvest. Many teenage boys, including family, helped and gained a strong work ethic. Ernest was known for his high expectations and patient training. They learned the most important lessons of integrity: be generous with your time, never short change anybody, and do the right thing even when nobody’s looking. While he was custom harvesting, Mildred and the children stayed home to maintain the farming business.

As a teenager, Ernest was converted and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at a local country church along with his Mother, Edith and Fred. Later, Ernest was baptized in the South Canadian River. Farming fed his family, but he firmly believed that working for the Lord sowed seeds for eternity. He was an active member of the Faith United Methodist Church in Woodward, Ok. He held numerous offices for the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference. In 2009, Ernest was given a Lay Speaker Ameritus award from the United Methodist Conference, after many years of faithful service as Lay Speaker and teacher. With Mildred playing the piano, Ernest used his gift of singing to uplift the soul and share the gospel. Ernest and Mildred went on numerous Lay Witness Missions in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma where they met many wonderful Christian friends. They were also involved with the Gideons where they had the privilege of placing Bibles in the hands of many. Their affiliation with the Gideons gave them the opportunity to minister to the people of Belize and Mexico on Mission trips. Ernest and several local Lay people felt the need to bring hope to the inmates at the William S Key Correctional Facility in Fort Supply, where they went regularly to share the gospel. This ministry is continued still to this day.

Ernest is survived by his loving wife, Mildred, of 64 years. Their children, Elmer Lee of Elk City, OK, Shirley (Larry) Klein of Yukon, OK, and Pam(Jim) Down of Crane, Missouri. He delighted in his Grandchildren, Chad (Angie) Schimmels, Chris(Cathy) Johnson, Jason(Vandy)Schimmels, Jennifer Plato, Ryan Schimmels, Grant(Billie)Schimmels, Kati(Charles)Lowe, Sean Johnson, Lori Johnson, and 11 Great Grandchildren. His siblings Fred(Esther)Johnson and Edith Brown as well as his in-laws, Lahoma Grunewald, John Hunt, Ken(Shirley) Grunewald, and Ruth McKowan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Nina, Parents in-law Charles and Blanche Grunewald, and other family members.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sunnyside Cemetery Association or to the Gideons Memorial Bible Program with the funeral home accepting contributions.

Condolences may be made online at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com