Richard "Rick" Dean Johnson

Richard (Rick) Dean Johnson, 85, passed away at Advent Health in Ottawa, Kansas on May 4, 2025. Rick was born on December 2, 1939, to Elmer and Velma Johnson of Topeka, Kansas. The family later moved to Marysville, Kansas where Rick attended Marysville High School. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy and proudly served on the USS Enterprise during his 8-year enlistment. Rick then joined the Air National Guard and served for 25 years, stationed at Forbes Field in Topeka, Kansas and Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona.

After retiring, Rick worked as a regional director for Recreation Resource Management, managing campsites for the U.S. Forest Service, in the Gunnison, Colorado area. His grandsons were blessed to be able to spend summers working, playing, camping and most important making memories with their grandparents. Among cherished memories is the summer two of the boys returned home with Mohawk haircuts and another year one of the boys was accidentally left behind at a restaurant all day. Further into retirement, Rick managed AA Self Storage in Ottawa for 10 years followed by 5 more years of helping the owner with mowing and miscellaneous tasks.

Rick loved spending time with family. At family events he could be found entertaining great-grandchildren or discussing current technology with adult grandchildren. He enjoyed going on motorcycle road trips and participating in Veteran Day's Parade and Toys for Tots rides. Rick was known at Roasted Café for teasing and taunting waitstaff in a fun-loving way that left all amused and Rick blocked from entering the door on one occasion.

Rick was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ottawa, Kansas. He enjoyed serving on the trustee's committee, teaching the Oxford Sunday School Class, and helping wherever he was needed. He was also a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars.

Rick is survived by his wife Christine and two sons from his 30-year marriage to Loretta (Stonebreaker) Johnson: Alan (Jennifer) Johnson and Troy (Ines) Johnson both of Topeka, Ks. He had 3 grandsons and 3 great-grandchildren: Brett (Jaimie) Johnson (Savannah & Cheyenne), Zachary (Vanessa) Johnson (Mason), and Jacob (Suzanna) Johnson.

Through his 2013 marriage to Christine Strimple, Rick is survived by 3 stepdaughters Scarlet Nilges of Ottawa, Ks., Brenda Bettge of Kansas City, Mo, and Susan (Jay) Schmutz of Overbrook, Ks. As well as 8 grandchildren, Garett Nilges, Debbie (Gerad) Fagan, Greg (Janae) Nilges, Kylee Nilges, Brandon Bettge, Ralie Bettge, Hunter Schmutz, and Amanda (Calvin) Young and 18 great-grandchildren.

Rick is also survived by his sister Sheryl Mullen (also known as “the smart one”) of Marysville, Ks, and 2 brothers Larry (Donna) Johnson of Topeka, Ks, and Glen (Marie) Johnson of Debham, Ma.

Rick was preceded in death by his wife Loretta Johnson, his father Elmer Johnson, mother Velma Johnson, and stepmother Hildred Johnson.

A Celebration of Rick’s Life will be held at First United Methodist Church on Tuesday May 13, 2025, at 11:00am – 203 East 4th St in Ottawa, Ks.

The family will receive guests on Monday May 12, 2025, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Dengel & Son Mortuary – 235 South Hickory St, in Ottawa, Ks.

The family requests memorial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project or First United Methodist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary 235 South Hickory Street, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

To share your memories of Rick or to send a special condolence message to his family, please visit the guestbook below.