Dennis E. Johnson

Dennis Johnson 91, died Sunday April 22, 2007 in the arms of his soul mate, Rose Black at Solo Ranch, Akela, NM, his loving family and closest friends nearby. He was born in Dike, Iowa to Danish parents Hans and Minnie Johnson on December 22, 1915. Dennis E. Johnson died April 23, 2007. At the early age of 17 Dennis left Iowa on the "coldest day of the year" and rode his Harley motorcycle to California in search of opportunity. When he grew tired at the end of along day, he spent the night out in the open. He would laugh at what a sight he was, when he arrived at the home of relatives in Los Angeles after several days on the road, so covered in grime that they did not recognize him when he knocked. After shutting the door and some discussion they saw some resemblance to a relative in Iowa and let him in for a bath. An entrepreneur at heart from an early age, Dennis began his chicken business near Moorpark, CA, which grew from 1,500 to 1.5 million chickens. In the book entitled "Moorpark Story" by Norma Gunter, "To Dennis Johnson belongs the distinction of ushering the Poultry Era to Moorpark with 20,000 chickens. In fact, it may well be that he introduced the commercial egg business to the entire county ₦ August 1948". In 1958 Dennis and partner Dick Peterson formed the Moorpark Milling and Hardware Company which was a turkey raising business growing to more than 250,000 before being destroyed in fire in 1967. Dennis and was the first to ship frozen chickens to the troops in Europe during WWII. While he was tending to the chickens, his only daughter Jeanne was riding her horse near by. She spent many a day at work with Dennis during her early years. The Chicken business on Spring street which dead ends on Los Angeles Avenue soon was threatened by the freeway so Dennis phased out so not to stand in the way of progress. Dennis also owned Moorpark's first air port and private air strip where local residents stored their planes. In the early 1970's Dennis saw an opportunity to invest in a working cattle ranch at the base of the Goodsight Mountains near Akela. He then recognized the special experience and talents of Joe Smyer, who became a life long friend and worked the ranch until the time that Dennis would finalize his move to New Mexico. A few years later Dennis saw an opportunity to purchase some land, which he developed into what is now known as the fly in community Solo Vista Estates. At this time he had a vision of the family home complete with an airplane hanger. Dennis would reminisce about his years as a pilot and flying into Deming Airport, picking up the VW he kept there and driving to the grocery store before reversing the process and returning to the ranch. With love and foresight, Dennis had the intention that his home would be filled with people. With his bare hands and close friend Vaughn Rose, tons of logs, tiles, and handmade adobes and ten years later the home was completed. His work of art took on a life of it's own as thousands of people over the years graced Solo Vista Estates, sitting at the kitchen table with Dennis and Rose, enjoying the hospitality, fine dining and a glass of wine over great conversation, laughter and memories. Dennis Johnson loved life, loved people, the magic of nature and the great out of doors. When asked if he was retired, his response was "why retire?" He enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the Ranch, the visits with close personal friends who dropped in on a daily basis. He enjoyed the people who dropped in to tour the ranch and invest in property at Solo Vista Estates. Dennis especially looked forward to visits from John Wood (Foreman) and wife Diane Wood. Most of all he loved watching the planes on the runway out his picture window, the hummingbird's poolside, and the wildlife migrating past his lake, cooking his desert biscuits and watching Rose "catch" dinner. Dennis rarely wanted to leave the beauty of Solo Ranch, unless it was to dance to the music of the Big Band of the Rio Grande. Dennis and Rose went to dances held in the area at least three times a week, and on occasion they had been know to attend two dances in one day. Dennis loved ballroom and country and western dancing, and studied different and various steps wherever he could find them. Dennis always made sure that ladies did not sit very long with out an invitation to dance, knew what their favorite dances were and he was always thoughtful and considerate of all he knew. Dennis was survived by his true love and soul mate Rose Black, of Akela, NM, three daughters Jeannie Smith, of Oxnard, CA, Rebecca Amati, of Las Cruces, NM, Rose Marie Hallock-Sweet, of Eaton Town, NJ, one brother Byron Johnson, of Dike, IA, two sisters, Minnie Coates, Margaret O'hort, thirteen grandchildren, Sundee, Dennis, Elaine, Tito, Gayle, Dylan, Forest, Kirsta, Jason, Haley, Tawney, Kirsti, and Kenny. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Minnie Johnson, two sons, Ralph Sweet, Kenneth Sweet, two brothers, Chester Johnson, Robert Johnson, two sisters, Irene Drane and Carol Gerdes. Keeping with Dennis's wishes, there will be a memorial service and celebration at 1:00 p.m. June 3, 2007 at the Elks Lodge in Las Cruces NM. Dennis wishes were for a memorial Celebration of his life, and to honor those whom he has very special relationships with, those he danced with, those he laughed with and worked with. He wanted to throw a party for family and friends. The family requests that those wishing to share their memories of Dennis write them out to be collected for a Memorial Book to be distributed to the family. PDF Printable Version