Willard Kent Johnson passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his home on September 8, 2021.

Kent was born on March 14, 1932, in Santa Ana, California to Ralph and Eva Johnson. He spent his childhood playing football and being outside any way that he could. He was a surfer before surfing was cool. Kent grew up just a block from the beach and had a special place in his heart for the beach and the ocean. He graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1950 and later went on to graduate from Long Beach State University. Kent also was enlisted in the United States Air Force during 1952 until 1956 and served honorably in the Korean War. Later in life, Kent worked as a claims adjuster for State Farm Insurance. In 1963 Kent moved to Orange, California where he raised his family and lived for 40 years before moving to Spanish Fork, Utah in 2004.

On May 18, 1962, Kent married the love of his life, Betty LaRue Ellsworth in the Mesa, Arizona LDS Temple. Together, Kent and LaRue had a beautiful family with 2 daughters and 1 son. While his children were growing up, Kent supported them in every activity. He made his family his main priority in life. Kent was an Eagle Scout, served as a scoutmaster and was involved in scouting, influencing dozens of lives of young men.  He coached little league, among many other things. His wife, children and posterity were everything to him.

Kent loved USC football, reading, fishing, gardening, camping, backpacking and especially any sporting event he could support his kids, grandkids and great grandkids in. He had a fond love of sunsets and being outside. He was a faithful, life long member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Kent participated in many callings with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints including Elders Quorum Presidency, scoutmaster, bishopric counselor, clerk, High Priest group leader, missionary and he also loved genealogy, particularly indexing old records for the Church. Kent was a true missionary everywhere he went and exemplified true Christ-like love. What an honor is was to his family to have such an amazing example in their daily lives.

Kent is survived by his loving family including his daughters, Beth (Dennis) Stone of Spanish Fork, Utah, Theresa (Rick) Halverson of Kennewick, Washington and his son Scott Johnson of Spanish Fork, Utah. He is also survived by his posterity of 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Kent is also survived by many nieces and nephews, a brother-in-law, Ernie Ellsworth and two sisters-in-law, Joyce Bond and Evelyn Gelvin.

Kent is finally reunited with his darling wife, LaRue and we can only imagine how sweet that reunion is. Kent was preceded in death by LaRue, his parents, Ralph and Eva Johnson and his sisters, Barbara Long and Kathleen Pipkin.

Two viewings will be held honoring the life of Kent Johnson and we invite all who wish to attend and pay their respects in his memory. The first viewing will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021, from 6 until 8 in the evening at the Walker Funeral Home—187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork. The second viewing will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, from 9:45 until 10:45 in the morning at the LDS church at 1167 South 1700 East in Spanish Fork. Following the viewing, funeral services will be held at 11 o’clock in the morning in the chapel. Interment will be at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.