William E. Johnson (Bill, Billy, Wink or Winky)

William E. Johnson (Bill, Billy, Wink or Winky)

Feb. 14, 1951 – Jan. 7, 2023

Bill was born at home on the Johnson Farm on Valentine's Day in 1951. He was the sixth of seven children born to Elmer (Cactus/Coyote) and Betty Johnson. Bill or rather Billy, in those days graduated from Creston High School in 1969. Billy participated and excelled in every sport throughout his school years. He had a competitive spirit and loved the game, it didn't matter the game. He loved competing. Bill earned the nickname "Wink" in high school, I don't know if it was because he was quick as a wink or if it was because he winked at all the girls. I've heard the story told both ways, never the less the name stuck and it later evolved into Winky which is the name still used by his family and friends.

Not long after graduating he met the love of his life Janet McKinnon. The two were married in 1971. During this time Bill continued to play sports on local town teams which earned him a scholarship to play football for a community college. Unfortunately, he injured his hamstring within the first week of practice and his football career came to an end. Bill was a hard worker, a true entrepreneur and he wasn't afraid to take a risk or try something new. At the age of twelve he grew a small potato garden, an experiment at first which later paid off. After high school he worked at the Lincoln sawmill for seven years. Dairy farming was next on his lists of professions. While running the dairy, Bill opened Cowboy Concrete, a small concrete plant in Seven Bays, Wash.. After seven years of dairy farming and concrete he, Janet and Lindsay were off to Reno for a new start. Bill worked as a security guard in Reno for a few months before accepting an offer to manage Truckee North Tahoe Materials, a concrete plant in Truckee, Calif. During that time he invented the Aku-counter, a digital drum counter for concrete trucks. Bill sold and distributed the Aku-counter for several years all over the country. After seven years in Calif. it was time to go back home to Eastern Wash.

Bill and Janet bought the Dinner Bell Restaurant and Lounge in Loon Lake, Wash. which they owned and operated for twenty years until it burned down in 2011. In 1996, Bill and Janet built the Lakeside Motel in Loon Lake, Wash. As if running a restaurant and Motel wasn't enough, Bill started a construction company, and worked with his son in-law Jesse Smith for many years. Bill's life came full circle in 2012 when he and Janet bought the Corner Cafe in Creston, Wash. After purchasing the Corner Cafe they built storage units on the other side of town. As I said before he was a true entrepreneur and had a colorful career. To top it all off, he and Janet raced horses successfully for nearly thirty years. They enjoyed racing at Emerald Downs, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate and had a few exceptional horses along the way.

Bill and Janet were married for, dare I say, 51 years. They had two daughters Darcy Marie Johnson and Lindsay Day Smith (Johnson) however, his son in-law Jesse Smith was a son to him and he loved him as if he was his own. He treasured watching his grandkids, Layne Smith and Vincent Smith grow up next door. Bill loved his family; the measure of his life should be measured by the loving care his family provided at the end. Bill is survived by his wife Janet, daughter Lindsay (Jesse) Smith, his grandchildren Layne (Kristie) Smith, Vincent (Chantelle) Smith. His brothers Melvin (Donna) Moulton, Ted Gilman, Terry (Donna) Johnson, his sisters Vicki (Rick) Hietman, Charlotte (Steve) Etue, his sister in-laws Lila (Wayne) Snider, Phyllis Melberg, John Melberg and brother in-law Mick McKinnon and many nieces and nephews, cousins.

Bill was preceded in death by his daughter Darcy Marie, his mom Betty Johnson, his dad Elmer Johnson, brother Brad Johnson and his beloved mother in-law Bernice McKinnon.