Milford "Mil" I. Johns

Milford I. Johns

Services for Milford "Mil" Johns were Feb. 14, 1997, in Richland, Wash. He died Feb. 9, 1997 at Beverly Health and Rehab Center in Pasco, Wash. He was a member of Central United Protestant Church in Richland.

He was born Sept. 30, 1911 at Blair, Neb. to J.A. and Nellie (Badgerow) Johns.

At age six he moved with his family to Hemingford, Neb. and later to Harrison, Neb. He worked for several years in Powell Hardware Store in Harrison. In 1941, he and his wife, Fern (Deitchler) moved to San Diego, Calif. where he was employed by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the US Navy spending most of those years at the Naval Air Station in Norman, Okla., where he was an instructor.

His marriage to Fern ended in divorce. After his discharge from the Navy, he was employed by Newberry's Hardware Store in Alliance, Neb. In 1946 he married Doris Losey and they moved to Richland, Washington. He worked at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and retired in 1976.

She died in 1973, Mil became acquainted with Ruth (Woodruff) Norman whom he had known when they were both young people living in Harrison, Nebraska. They were married in 1975. Ruth died in 1981.

Mil loved music and played several musical instruments. After his retirement he became an avid golfer and spent many hours each day on the golf course as weather permitted. In 1985 he married Vestal Smith who shared his love for golfing.

They made their home in Richland where they lived until about a year ago when his health deteriorated to the point it became necessary for him to enter the rehab center.

He is survived by his wife, Vestal, step-children, Lowell, Marshall and Roger Smith of California and DeEtta Demaratus of Seattle, Wa., a brother Harold Johns of Maine; sisters, Audrey Hood, Gordon, Neb., LaVerne Roberts, Torrington, Ruth Manring, Lusk and Phyllis Lambert, Riverside, Calif.

Relatives attending the services in addition to his step-children and their families were Harold and Mary Johns, Scarborough, Maine; Jack and Phyllis Lambert, Riverside, Calif.; and Darryl and Ruth Manring of Lusk.

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