Donald Marvin Johnson

He was born January 24,1947 in Billings Montana to Marvin and Berniece Johnson, who moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where Don grew up and graduated from Rapid City High School.

He began his career in Art at South Dakota State University, where he met his wife of 52 years, Deanna Meyers, a fellow art student. They married in 1969 and went on to receive their Master of Art degrees, Don in Metalsmithing and Ceramics, and Deanna in Painting at Montana State University in 1972.

In 1973 they moved to Oneonta, New York, where Don taught Jewelry and Metalsmithing for twelve years at New York State University College, Oneonta. He became a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. His metal art sculptures received numerous awards and recognition in juried and invitational exhibitions and now reside in collections throughout the world, most notably the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. and C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana.

Montana called them back in 1984 to Helena, where they founded Johnson Jewelers and later purchased Eaton Turner Jewelry, developing it into a state-of-the art, award winning business, which has also supported hundreds of local charities and fundraisers. Don taught their son Corey, the art of custom jewelry and repair from an early age to later working side by side for 13 years until Don retired in 2013.

Then he took up the art of pinstriping only to paint his friends' motorcycles but went on to paint on metal panels, pushing the craft into a whole new creative direction, becoming a top recognized pinstriper. His paintings now reside in collections throughout the country.

He is survived by his wife Deanna, son Corey Johnson and wife Katrina, grandsons Avery and Sam, and many close relatives and friends.

Don was grateful for his last ten years due to the generous gift of life, a kidney transplant. Family requests that in lieu of flowers all donations be sent to the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852, or kidneyfund.org

A Celebration of Life is being planned for this summer in Montana.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AdvantageMelcherRoses.com for the JOHNSON family.