Yvonne S. (McLeish) Johnson

Yvonne S. Johnson, 86, former resident of Paradise Valley, Montana passed away on Monday, March 02, 2015, at Highgate Senior Living Center in Bozeman, MT. Cremation has taken place and there will be no services held per her request. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society in Livingston or the Montana State University School of Art. Yvonne was born in Great Falls, MT on August 28, 1928 to Selma and Earl McLeish. She spent many summers on her grandparents ranch near Geyser, MT before graduating from Great Falls High School. She continued her schooling at Montana State College (University) where she majored in art and minored in English. After graduation Yvonne briefly taught school and worked as a legal secretary before marrying her future lifelong companion, Vernon Johnson, on March 22, 1952. Vernon and Yvonne lived in California for two years where Vernon was in the Air Force and where their two children were born. They then moved to Hilger, MT where they had a ranch/farm and taught school. In 1963 they moved to a ranch south of Livingston where they lived until 2010 before moving to Bozeman. Both Vernon and Yvonne taught at Park Senior High School for a number of years while maintaining the ranch and being active in the community. Yvonne was an accomplished artist and gifted English teacher. Her outdoor and western themed paintings hang in many homes throughout the West. Many of her former English students credit her with providing a wonderful language foundation that served them well in their careers. She also played golf, enjoyed her dogs, was an excellent cook, and loved playing the piano. Yvonne is survived by: a daughter, Andrea Lawrence and her husband Andy, a son, Neal Johnson and his wife JoAnne; three grandchildren, Jeffrey Johnson and his wife Emily, Kory Johnson and his wife Sheena, and Rebecca Gupta-Lawrence and her husband Arvind; two step-brothers, Ken and Ernie McLeish and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in Livingston.