Coeur d'Alene's century man

COEUR d’ALENE — Ray Johnson was a member of the legendary 10th Mountain Division in World War II, so you know he’s tough.

As he celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by hundreds of friends and family on Saturday, you could tell something else about Ray Johnson: He is loved.

“My grandpa, he’s always happy. I’ve never met a person like him. People instantly love him and want to be his friend,” said Katje Johnson-Jacobs, Johnson’s granddaughter and organizer of the party at the Coeur d’Alene Eagles on Sherman Avenue, where balloons and banners decorated the upstairs room. “He’s a pretty neat guy.”

With the spotlight on him, Johnson was at his best. He happily carried on conversations, shook hands, swapped stories and posed for pictures.

He held up the eagle statue he received for being the oldest-running member of the Coeur d’Alene Eagles — he joined when he was 18.

“Awesome,” he said when asked how he felt about such a big crowd coming together in his honor.

His sense of humor remains strong, too.

“I was wondering what this was all about,” Johnson said, laughing.

The son of Earl and Clara Johnson, Johnson grew up on a farm homesteaded by his parents in Cougar Bay.

As a Coeur d'Alene High senior in 1942, Johnson helped build Farragut Naval Training Station. When he returned from World War II, he helped take it apart.

Johnson joined the Army in 1943. His military career was short but distinguished and he proved his valor in combat. He was a part of the 10th Mountain Division credited with heroic deeds in World War II and played a key role in the defeat of Germany.

Johnson was involved in battles and lost good friends in the war. He doesn’t like to talk about the fighting and killing, nor does he care to elaborate on his own actions.

"That wasn’t the important part of my life,” he told The Press in a previous interview. "It was the reunions."

Johnson earned the Bronze Star among other awards.

After the war, he returned to North Idaho and was known for his dedication and skilled carpentry work. Johnson bought, repaired and sold homes, and handled renovations around town.

Johnson and wife Vickie had four sons. They celebrated their 74th anniversary before she passed away May 1, 2022.

His friend, Sandy Emerson, wasn’t surprised at all the fuss and heartfelt wishes directed at Johnson on Saturday.

He said Johnson's success, both in career and family, could be attributed to his discipline, kindness and generosity. 

“He’s always in the right place at the right time because he knows where those places are,” Emerson said.

Johnson, sitting nearby, was asked how he has maintained what seemed to be a charmed life.

He smiled as he offered a short, simple answer:

“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”