Obituary

Bertrand Errol "Zeke" Johnson, 80, of Goessel, a former Halstead resident died January 7, 2006 at Bethesda Home in Goessel. He was born July 30, 1925 in Hesston, the son of Obed and Esther K. Holdeman Johnson. Both preceded him in death.

Moving to Halstead at an early age, he was a lifelong Halstead resident until moving to Goessel five years ago. He graduated from Halstead High School in 1942 and was a member of the 1942 state championship basketball team.

He worked for a local farmer before serving in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947. After returning from his service in the Philippines, he worked at Gamble's Hardward Store in Halstead and worked various positions at the post office before he became a fulltime rural mail carrier delivering mail from Halstead to Hesston.

He was a member of the First Mennonite Church; a Halstead City Council member for several years; a volunteer fireman; a Halstead Booster Club member and an avid sports fan.

On August 10, 1947 he married Verda Lee Regier in Halstead. She preceded him in death on November 13, 1999.

Survivors: daughters; Pam Doyle and husband, Lee, Holton; Jan Higdon and husband Ken, Lee's Summit, Missouri; Debbie Reed and husband, Doug, Denver, Colorado; three sisters, Theda Becker and husband, Ed, Moundridge; Eleanor Unruh, Halstead; Betty Koehn and husband, Floyd, Galva; five grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Bryan Higdon.

Graveside services were held Januaary 10 at Halstead Cemetery, followed by the memorial service at the church. Burial was in the Halstead Cemetery.