Willis "Bud" Johnston

Willis Wayne (Bud) Johnston was born on October 29th, 1934, in Brewster, Kansas, the son of Morton and Daisy Tapp Johnston. He passed away, after a three-month long illness at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas on August 31st, 2010 at the age of 75.
While a young boy, the family moved to Atwood, Kansas, then to Salina, Kansas in the early 1940's. Bud graduated from Washington High School, Salina, in 1952, where he made many close friends with which he still kept in contact.
On September 12, 1954 Bud married Dorotha Mae Weidenhaft at the Glen Elder Methodist Church. To this union was born two daughters, Denise Rae and Shelly Ann. They continued to live in Salina, where Bud was employed as a salesman for several companies. In 1961, Bud and Dot moved to Glen Elder where Bud worked in construction and later for the City of Glen Elder until 1970. He then worked for Wichers Color Corporation in Beloit until 1981. In 1984, Bud became an insurance agent with Cappers Insurance Inc. He retired from that position in April 1998. He enjoyed the insurance business very much and as a result of his successful sales, Bud and Dot were able to take several trips, which included four cruises.
When Bud and Dot moved back to Glen Elder, Bruce Smith was minister of the Glen Elder Christian Church. Through his friendship and influence, Bud was baptized in the Christian Church on January 14th, 1962. Bud was a deacon of the church, and later an elder, performing this duty for 33 years.
Bud had many interests and hobbies. He enjoyed barbecuing, golf, hunting, and fishing. Nothing gave him more joy than sitting on the lake with his step-father, Joe, casting his line, teeing off with his buddies, tromping through a field with his grandsons Zach and Sam, and Shelly, Dave, and Kevin stalking a deer, turkey, or pheasant, or bragging about the beauty of his granddaughters.
The Johnston family has enjoyed many delicious meals due to Bud's expertise with the smoker and bbq grill. Spending time with family was very important to Bud. He especially enjoyed spoiling and doting on his grandchildren. His family have many life-time memories of trips and outings taken together, including trips to Minnesota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and most recently, a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration in Florida.
Bud is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved step-father, Joe Stratton, and his brother-in-law, Leroy Harris.
He is survived by his wife, Dorotha, his daughters, Denise Stover and husband Kevin of Concordia, Kansas, Shelly Kueny and husband Dave of Towanda, Kansas, his sister, Glenda Harris of Grand Junction, Colorado, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marj and Max Eberle, grandsons, Zachary Stover and wife Leslie of Olathe, Samuel Kueny of Lawrence, granddaughters, Jessica Stover of Topeka, Hannah Kueny of Wichita, and Adrienne Kueny of Towanda, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a host of friends.
Bud was the personification of the clichéd saying, "He never met a stranger".

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Friday, September 3 at the Glen Elder Christian Church. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Thursday with the family present from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the McDonald Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Glen Elder Christian Church.