Frank Johnson

“Hey, we’ve had some fun times” were some of the last words Frank C. Johnson spoke to his family before he graduated from this life on Saturday March 28, 2026. Frank loved the outdoors, a passion he eagerly shared with his family. He passed that love on to his five children by taking them on many hiking, biking, fishing, history tours, camping, and river running adventures. Zion National Park and the Abajo Mountains were his favorite places to visit. Lake Powell, however, never won him over. He cherished the beauty of Glen Canyon from his river trips before the dam was built. As a young man he was quite a good marksman, qualifying for a national shooting championship as a Navy ROTC cadet.

Professionally, Frank was a civil engineer, with his career highlight overseeing the modernization of the Salt Lake Air National Guard as the base engineer and commander of the civil engineering squadron there. He traveled throughout the world and enjoyed the friends he made there, especially in his squadron. He had a deep love for classical music, not the ‘junk’ his children listened to. He enjoyed singing for many years with the Oratorio Society. Frank loved history. He wrote and compiled history books for both his mother’s and father’s family, translated a beautiful Danish history his wife’s grandfather had written, and even wrote an autobiography of his life.

Frank was born in Salt Lake City on October 10, 1935, to Peter M. and Elizabeth Cranney Johnson. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Denmark, and then married Ellen M. Pedersen in 1960, who preceded him in death in 2014. He is survived by five children: Richard P. (Beth), Elaine Kasteler (Dick), Kenneth F. (Lisa), Kevin C., and Lisa Walker (Blain). He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He also deeply cherished the love of and association with his many cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday April 3, 2026 at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N 400 E in Bountiful Utah. Friends may visit with family at the mortuary before the service from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm. Afterwards, family and friends are invited to share a dinner, one thoughtfully provided by Frank, where we will celebrate a remembrance of the fun times with dad at a location announced during the services. Frank will be laid to rest at the Bountiful City Cemetery on Monday, April 6th at 11:00 am.