Russell R. Johnson

Russell R. Johnson, of Bainbridge Island, died on Aug. 12. He was 88.

He was born on Jan. 30, 1921 in Williston, N.D., to Roy S. and Frances Anne Johnson. He attended school in his hometown of Ray, N.D., graduating from high school in 1938. In 1936, at age 15, he earned his Eagle Scout Award and was in charge of a group of scouts from Western North Dakota, taking the boys to the National Scout Jamboree in Washington, D.C., with a coyote pup as their mascot.

After high school, Russ took a job on the Fort Peck, Mont., dam project, supervising grading crews. He entered the University of North Dakota in 1940 as a pre-med student, attending until war was declared in December 1941. He then took a job with Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, Kan.

On his 21st birthday he married the love of his life, Betty J. Cooper. He entered the United States Navy, serving as an aviation machinist Mate First Class. After basic training he was assigned to the flight crew of Catalina PBYs, patrolling the West Coast serving as flight engineer. In 1946, after his discharge, Russ and Betty arrived on Bainbridge Island with their hands in their pockets. He went to work as a salesman for Rodal’s Chrysler/Plymouth Agency in Rolling Bay and then joined New York Life Insurance in sales in 1953. He retired after 20 years and sold real estate in North Kitsap for 10 years.

He was civic-minded and active in many community projects. He was a member and past president of the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club and in 1963 was given the KIRO-TV outstanding citizen award for his fundraising work on behalf of the Bainbridge Public Library.

He was a Master of the Masonic Lodge and was active in the construction of the Masonic Temple as well as the formation and administration of the Bainbridge Island Park Department, where his efforts resulted in the construction of the Ray Williamson Memorial Pool and the acquisition of the sites of Strawberry Hill, Eagledale and Battle Point parks for $1 each.

He spent two terms on the Kitsap County Library Board.

After retirement, Russ and Betty spent winters traveling in their motor home throughout the Southwest. They loved the Arizona desert.

He was a gentle, kind man of the highest integrity.

He survived by his wife, Betty Johnson; daughter Patricia Pigott; son Russell R. “Rusty” Jr., grandsons Robert and Peter Pigott; granddaughter Erin Hults; grandson Casey Johnson; great-grandson Harper Hults; and several nieces and nephews.

At his request, no services will be held. An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.