Harvey Alvin Johnson

Harvey Alvin Johnson, late of Weyburn, SK passed away on June 12, 2025 at the age of 83 years.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Alma Johnson; wife, Charmane; daughter, Wendy Johnson; in-laws, Edward and Rose (Catherine) Thompson; his 7 brothers and 5 sisters.

Harvey is survived by his children: Keri (Blair) Eddy of Saskatoon, SK and children, Ryder, Allegra; Adrian (Rebecca Funk) Johnson of Saskatoon, SK;Lisa (Kevin) Hallberg of Weyburn, SK and children, Charlize (Sidney), Brie (Rylan); sister, Carole (Willie) Lipsett; sisters-in-law, Iris Johnson and Darlene Johnson; brother-in-law, Joe Cook; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, Charmane’s family, cousins and friends.

A Service of Remembrance was held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. from the Zion Lutheran Church, 504 Windsor Street, Weyburn, SK with Pastor Victoria Mwamasika officiating. Luncheon followed the service at the Zion Lutheran Church (basement).  Interment will be held at a later date at the Pangman Cemetery, Pangman, SK.

Harvey was born in Pangman on March 16, 1942. He was the 12th of 14th children to Henry and Alma Johnson. Harvey attended school in Pangman. His first few years of school required the use of horses in the winter time and either walking or using cars in the summer. School buses and bombardiers soon followed. There was a 20 year gap in age between Harvey's oldest siblings and himself so he was very close with his younger two siblings, Carole and Pearl. They played together and even had their own 'language' for awhile. Harvey often spent his early adolescent summers in North Dakota helping his older sisters, Minnie and Myrtle, put up hay or cutting acres of standing alfalfa. Harvey was 14 years old when he saw the prettiest girl he'd even seen walking with friends in the ditch close to Pangman. He learned this girl was Charmane Thompson from Amulet and he soon invited her to a dance. Seven years later they were married in Pangman. Harvey took courses in booking keeping and Drafting and Charmane was a Registered Nurse. They spent one winter in Trail BC before moving back to Pangman. They had two children while there, Wendy and Keri. Harvey had farming in his blood but with limited renting options in Pangman area, and not enough money to purchase land, they moved to Weyburn in October of 1969. One winter living in town was enough for both of them to realize that town-living was not for Harvey, and they began looking for a farmstead. They purchased the quarter east of Weyburn. Two more children, Adrian and Lisa, arrived in 1971 and 1972. Harvey worked for Saskatchewan Highways in the early 1970's then took a carpentry course and obtained his Journeyman's certificate. In 1974 he began building a house on the quarter of land. He worked on it between jobs and hammered every nail. The only things contracted out were digging the basement, installing the furnace, and laying carpet on the main floor.

Harvey's carpenter skills provided him numerous employment opportunities including building the Weyburn Square Mall, the Estevan Coal Mines, and then Souris Valley Regional Care Centre. Harvey retired in 2002. He continued to be busy in retirement with farming, researching his ancestry, and taking on carpentry projects for his children. In 2005, Harvey and Charmane sold 10 acres to their youngest daughter, Lisa and her husband Kevin. Harvey and Kevin began building the house; they dug the basement, poured the footings, built the walls. The only things contracted out were a portion of the plumbing, the drywall, living room hardwood, and shingles.

Harvey made three sets of kitchen cupboards for his children and assisted his daughter Keri and husband Blair in building their lake cabin at Fishing Lake. If he wasn't building something, he was putting in a crop or taking it off. When he began putting up hay, he provided hay for his grandchildren's horses. If the kids were on horses, Harvey was often nearby.

Harvey and Charmane traveled to numerous places: Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Cuba, Europe. Their favorite trips though were by far the ones to Norway and England where they wereere able to walk where they ancestors walked, and see where they lived and even worked. In addition to these trips, Harvey and Charmane went to Serbia in 2013 with Adrian and his wife Rebecca and Harvey's niece Gloria to see where Charmane's maternal side was from. At the end of the family trip, they took a tour of Prague, Vienne, and Budapest. Harvey and Charmane both took DNA genealogical tests and discovered, to their surprise, that they had significant Irish heritage. In 2017 Harvey and Charmane went to Ireland to see where these ancestors were from. At the end of that tour, Adrian accompanied Harvey and Charmane and cousin Gloria to Norway, where they visited the ancestral farms.

Harvey and Charmane were very close with their grandkids. Ryder and Ally spent many summers at their farm, and Charlize and Brie were just 200 yards away. Countless bonfires were held and gardens grown. Animals always held a special place in Dad's heart, especially dogs. No matter who actually 'owned' the dog, it wasn't unusual for the dog to adopt Harvey as their own special human.

Harvey was industrious and ambitious in his life. He was known to say, "If someone else can do it, why can't I?" and then to pick up the code book to learn the standards, and then do it. If family mentioned the possibility of a project, he would start drawing up plans. He encouraged his kids to get an education as "It is always easy to carry around". He was always supportive and proud of his kids and grandkids, and would do what he could to help them achieve their goals.

Charmane and Harvey were best friends and sweethearts. When her health failed they moved into Hilltop Manor together. Charmane died on September 24, 2024 and Harvey never stopped looking for her. While we are sad to see him go, we are so happy they are together again.

For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Harvey may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, #300 ~ 55 St. Claire Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4V 2X7.

For those wishing to attend virtually, please follow the live stream video by opening Harvey’s memorial page on RD Family Funeral Chapel’s website starting at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.