Donald Joseph Johnston

Donald Joseph Johnston passed away on the peaceful Sabbath morning of August 10th, 2025, in Smithfield, Utah, at the age of 85. He was born on January 27, 1940, in Newburgh, New York, to Haskell Lucius Johnston and Marguerite Dupuy Johnston. The family then lived in seventeen states by the time he graduated high school. While this made it difficult to make friends and put down roots, he came across a Boy’s Life magazine, sought out his first Boy Scout troop, and began his lifelong love of scouting. The scout slogan to “do a good turn daily” rang true to this young boy as a principle to live by for a happy life. At sixteen, he joined the Sea Explorers and became a sea scout where he was trained to navigate a ship, peaking his interest in surveying. He served in the scouting program for 35 years, and earned his Eagle Scout. He served as a scoutmaster for ten years; and at age 75, he completed his final scouting accomplishment by earning the Silver Beaver Award.

He joined the US Army November 7, 1962 and was assigned to the 97th Engineer Battalion with 11 weeks of engineering training and was sent to France for three years to design and layout railroads, roadways and bridges. Upon completion, he came to Tremonton and began his dream of becoming an engineer by earning a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1969 from USU, and obtaining his license as a Professional Engineer in 1975 and Professional Land Surveyor in 1980. He worked as a resident engineer for the Utah Department of Transportation in Tremonton for thirty years before retiring and opening Johnston Engineering with his son, Benjamin, in 1997, which he absolutely loved, and finally retired from in 2020.

While working in Ogden, Utah, he met and married the love of his life, Linda Ann Covieo, whom he adored and always called “my darling.” Linda also introduced him to the gospel he had been searching for. He was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Linda’s father, and married Linda on February 2, 1965, in Malad, Idaho. They were sealed one year later on February 2, 1966 in the Logan temple. They settled in Tremonton where they put down roots, had five children, and built a wonderful life together. Don loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren golfing, hunting, camping, playing tennis, and teaching them how to play chess and tie knots. He also had an optimistic outlook on life, and loved to laugh, tell jokes, talk with people, and have fun. He also loved talking about the gospel, serving as a stake missionary for many years, and then serving in the Brigham City Temple with his wife from 2012 until 2020. He was a man with great faith and trust in Heavenly Father. The most important thing to Don was his family, whom he loved and would do anything for in everyway he could, up until he could do no more and had completed his mission on earth.

Don is survived by his wife, Linda Ann Covieo Johnston, his brother James Johnston, his children Paul Donald (Kathie) Johnston, Julie Ann Johnston, Benjamin Wynn (Melissa) Johnston, Amy Joanne Johnston, Gina Marie (Jeremy) Knudsen, seventeen grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Haskell Lucius Johnston, Marguerite Joan DuPuy Johnston, and his brothers Charles Johnston and Larry Alan Johnston.

We would like to give a special thanks to Birch Creek Assisted Living in Smithfield, Utah, who took great care of him during the last few months of his life, and where his darling wife remains in their care until Don comes to take her home. We are deeply grateful for hospice nurse Chelsea, who's exceptional care and kindness has brought peace and dignity to our fathers final days. Her care has brought comfort, not only to him, but to all of us.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 11 A.M. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral service from 9-10:30 A.M. All services will be held at the Tremonton Stake Center (660 N 300 E- Tremonton). Interment will follow in the Tremonton Riverview Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and can be accessed below.

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT PAN THE CROWD AND THE CAMERA IS FIXED UPON THE PULPIT. WE WILL TRY AND LIVESTREAM THE FUNERAL SERVICE. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO DO SO, DUE TO THE INTERNET SERVICE AT THE CHURCH, A RECORDING WILL BE UPLOADED WITHIN 24-48 HOURS AFTER THE SERVICE.