Earl Johnston
Earl D, Johnston, 93, of Curtis, NE, passed away August 11, 2025 in North Platte, NE.
Earl was born to Robert Z. and Hazel (Hecht) Johnston on September 18, 1931 at Curtis, NE.
Earl graduated from NSA in 1949. He went to the Air Force and spent four years in top security in England and Ice Land, mainly during the Korean War. He reenlisted for four more years, finishing his service in 1960. He married Janet M. Lane from England in 1956. they were blessed by three children, Tina, Todd and Tim.
He farmed and worked for the NRD in Frontier County, building terraces and pits for irrigation. His dream was to irrigate his own land. He bought the Jay Springer place north of Curtis in 1967 and did ditch and later gated pipe irrigation. He later put in seven center pivots on that land and other land that he bought.
Earl married Marilyn (Appleyard) Petersen on March 30, 1981 and added her three children to his family. Dex, Kay and Kim Petersen. He was a member of the ESU board, the American Legion Post 163 and he and Marilyn enjoyed 44 years together working the land and raised a top cow herd. He hired many young people from what was the Tech School in Curtis and is now the college.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, sons, Todd and Tim, grandkids Abby Hall, Clair Hall Quick, Lexi, Drake, Liam and Nova Johnston. Marilyn’s children, Dex Petersen Kimberly Cosby, step- grandchildren, Dan, Brandon Petersen, Tyler, Sierra, Brune, Kara Malone, Joel Repenning, Michelle, Thoene, great-grandchildren, Henry Malone, Jack Thoene, Monica, Julia, and Grace Thoene, sister-in-law Judy Mercer and many nieces and nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Hazel, his brothers, Oliver, Lyle, Howard, sister, Wilda Brown, his daughter, Tina Hall, step-daughter Kayleen Repenning.
Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 AM, Monday, September 8, 2025 at the Curtis Methodist Church, 412 Center Ave, Curtis, NE 69138 with Pastor Kort Kemp officiating.
Burial of cremains will follow at 2:00 PM in the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, NE
Memorials may be directed to the North Platte Legion (Post 163).