Obituary - Donald S. Johnson

We report with great sadness the passing of our husband, father, and grandfather, Donald Scott Johnson, 96. Our sadness is solely because of how much we will miss him; we could not have wished him a better life. Don died at age 96 on Sept. 29, 2025, in the house that he built in 1965.

Born in Page, Nebraska, to Clarence (Kelly) Johnson, a teacher, and Ruth Scott, a homemaker, Don lived in several small Nebraska towns, moving as better job opportunities for his father arose. While in Nebraska, Don spent summers at his grandparents’ farm, where he enjoyed fishing in the Platte River.

When he was 12, Don moved with his family to Nevada, where his parents had siblings. He lived in Gerlach for a year, after which the family moved to Golconda, where Don graduated from high school at the age of 15. He enrolled at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he graduated with a degree in chemistry. Later, Don returned to the university to earn a master’s degree in education.

In 1948, Don was given a position teaching seventh grade at Oats Park School, where he taught for three years. During the spring of 1951, he was offered the principalship of West End School along with initially teaching a fourth-grade class. He remained at West End for 15 years, during which time it grew from about 200 students to 750. Don became principal of E.C. Best Junior High School in 1966. Teaching was always Don’s first love, so in 1975 he returned to the classroom, teaching sixth-grade math for eight years. He enjoyed teaching very much and often mentioned how much he genuinely liked all his students. He served as business manager during his last three years with the district, retiring June 30, 1986, after 38 years.

It was during his third year teaching seventh grade that a “lovely teacher” (Don’s words), Dawna Audrain, arrived in Fallon to teach fourth grade. Don was interested immediately but didn’t manage a date until Dec. 7. Things moved rapidly after that, and they were married seven weeks later, on Jan. 27, 1951. Soon after the birth of their first child in 1953, they purchased a small farm on Sheckler Road, where they raised their four children. While they initially moved into the old farmhouse, during 1964–65, Don built their home on the property where he lived for the rest of his life.

Don and Dawna traveled extensively during their retirement. They took a three-month trip across the U.S. in their motorhome, toured England, Costa Rica and the Baltics, and went on several cruises. For 30 years, he and Dawna spent winters in a senior resort facility in Surprise, Arizona, where they made many good friends. Don and Dawna loved to dance and enjoyed the weekly dances with big-band music at Sunflower Resort. They also belonged to square-dancing groups in both Fallon and Arizona.

Don and Dawna were members of the Fallon 20-30, Mr. and Mrs., and Good Sam clubs. Avid bridge players, Don and Dawna played duplicate bridge for most of their almost 75 years of marriage, even giving lessons through the community college on occasion.

Don loved hunting and fishing; in his senior years, one of his favorite pastimes was reminiscing about the many hunting trips he took with his sons, brothers-in-law and friends. He was active in the Fallon bowling league and played slow-pitch softball. One of the achievements he took most pride in was running a marathon when he was 49.

Don was an active member of the United Methodist Church, where he served as Sunday School teacher and superintendent, lay leader and speaker, and representative to the annual conference for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Dawna; his four children, Lynn (Richard), Wade (Melinda), Randy, and Jim (Carol); siblings Mary, Rodger, Karmen, Marcia and Kelli; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Don was a caring, compassionate man who was a positive influence for his family, students and friends; he will be dearly missed.

A celebration of life will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church on Nov. 1 at 11 a.m.