Johnnie married Patricia (Jackson) Hiatt ~1943. They had five children together (Peggy, Diana, Audrey, Rodger, and Jack). Patricia left while Johnnie was in Alaska working on the pipeline, leaving the children alone in a remote North Dakota farmhouse. Following his return from Alaska, he moved his family to Spokane, Washington, where his sister, Esther and her husband, Alfred McCallie helped to care for his children until his marriage to Carrie (Mellior) Hiatt.
Grandpa was born in Ackworth, ND and joined the military during World War II. While in the service, he was a medic with the Allied Forces that liberated Dachau. After his discharge, he was involved in building the Alaskan pipeline. He later moved to Spokane, WA and was a furnace fireman for Kaiser Aluminum for thirty years. He was injured in an industrial explosion in 1983 and retired shortly thereafter.
He loved spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and gardening. On one hunting trip, which took place around 1964, grandpa was caught by a landslide. When he came to afterwards, his leg was broken and he couldn't get up. His horse, Babe, was also caught in the landslide, but emerged unhurt. He was able to grab hold of a stirrup and she dragged him all the way back to their base camp.
Grandpa was probably the strongest person I've ever known. Well into his seventies, he was a champion arm-wrestler. I don't know anyone who ever was able to best him.
In 1980, grandpa married his third wife, Barbara Hiatt. They were both members of the Spokane Valley Eagles Lodge and they enjoyed spending time with friends there.
Grandpa developed a neurodegenerative disease and was admitted to a nursing home when family members were no longer able to care for him.
~Juanita
Grandpa was born in Ackworth, ND and joined the military during World War II. While in the service, he was a medic with the Allied Forces that liberated Dachau. After his discharge, he was involved in building the Alaskan pipeline. He later moved to Spokane, WA and was a furnace fireman for Kaiser Aluminum for thirty years. He was injured in an industrial explosion in 1983 and retired shortly thereafter.
He loved spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and gardening. On one hunting trip, which took place around 1964, grandpa was caught by a landslide. When he came to afterwards, his leg was broken and he couldn't get up. His horse, Babe, was also caught in the landslide, but emerged unhurt. He was able to grab hold of a stirrup and she dragged him all the way back to their base camp.
Grandpa was probably the strongest person I've ever known. Well into his seventies, he was a champion arm-wrestler. I don't know anyone who ever was able to best him.
In 1980, grandpa married his third wife, Barbara Hiatt. They were both members of the Spokane Valley Eagles Lodge and they enjoyed spending time with friends there.
Grandpa developed a neurodegenerative disease and was admitted to a nursing home when family members were no longer able to care for him.
~Juanita
Johnnie married Patricia (Jackson) Hiatt ~1943. They had five children together (Peggy, Diana, Audrey, Rodger, and Jack). Patricia left while Johnnie was in Alaska working on the pipeline, leaving the children alone in a remote North Dakota farmhouse. Following his return from Alaska, he moved his family to Spokane, Washington, where his sister, Esther and her husband, Alfred McCallie helped to care for his children until his marriage to Carrie (Mellior) Hiatt.
Grandpa was born in Ackworth, ND and joined the military during World War II. While in the service, he was a medic with the Allied Forces that liberated Dachau. After his discharge, he was involved in building the Alaskan pipeline. He later moved to Spokane, WA and was a furnace fireman for Kaiser Aluminum for thirty years. He was injured in an industrial explosion in 1983 and retired shortly thereafter.
He loved spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and gardening. On one hunting trip, which took place around 1964, grandpa was caught by a landslide. When he came to afterwards, his leg was broken and he couldn't get up. His horse, Babe, was also caught in the landslide, but emerged unhurt. He was able to grab hold of a stirrup and she dragged him all the way back to their base camp.
Grandpa was probably the strongest person I've ever known. Well into his seventies, he was a champion arm-wrestler. I don't know anyone who ever was able to best him.
In 1980, grandpa married his third wife, Barbara Hiatt. They were both members of the Spokane Valley Eagles Lodge and they enjoyed spending time with friends there.
Grandpa developed a neurodegenerative disease and was admitted to a nursing home when family members were no longer able to care for him.
~Juanita
Grandpa was born in Ackworth, ND and joined the military during World War II. While in the service, he was a medic with the Allied Forces that liberated Dachau. After his discharge, he was involved in building the Alaskan pipeline. He later moved to Spokane, WA and was a furnace fireman for Kaiser Aluminum for thirty years. He was injured in an industrial explosion in 1983 and retired shortly thereafter.
He loved spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and gardening. On one hunting trip, which took place around 1964, grandpa was caught by a landslide. When he came to afterwards, his leg was broken and he couldn't get up. His horse, Babe, was also caught in the landslide, but emerged unhurt. He was able to grab hold of a stirrup and she dragged him all the way back to their base camp.
Grandpa was probably the strongest person I've ever known. Well into his seventies, he was a champion arm-wrestler. I don't know anyone who ever was able to best him.
In 1980, grandpa married his third wife, Barbara Hiatt. They were both members of the Spokane Valley Eagles Lodge and they enjoyed spending time with friends there.
Grandpa developed a neurodegenerative disease and was admitted to a nursing home when family members were no longer able to care for him.
~Juanita
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