Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Valley View Cemetery in Ordway, CO.  A reception will follow at the Ordway United Methodist Church in Ordway.  Memorial contributions should be made to the Lincoln Health; Box 248; Hugo, CO  80821. 

 

Obituary

Lowell Lawrence Johnston was born on February 28, 1932 in Denver, Colorado, the youngest of three sons to Ernest Soloman and Almee Sires Johnston.  Lowell graduated from high school in Ordway, CO in 1950 and attended Colorado A & M University for 2 ½ years before joining the United States Air Force in 1953.  During his time in the Air Force, he was stationed in Chaumont, France.  After serving his country and being honorable discharges, Lowell married Joyce Darnell on July 20, 1959 in Pueblo, Colorado.  Lowell and Joyce had two children, Kent and Kathy.

All Lowell ever wanted to do was be a rancher and run cows.  This was his dream which turned into his passion which he shared with his wife Joyce for over 68 years.  Shortly after their marriage, Lowell went to the Limon Stockyards and bought about 20 head of heifers.  This was the beginning of a lifetime of ranching.  They rented grass from neighbors to run their own herd.  Lowell and Joyce joined forces with Lowell’s brother Clifford and formed a partnership and bond that would never be broken.  Lowell , Joyce and Clifford were tremendous stewards of the land, and grew the ranch into what it is today with hard work, sacrifice, and intense management.  Throughout their decades of ranching they were witness to droughts, fires, blizzards, disease and multiple other hardships and disasters, but throughout it all, they remained steadfast to the very end.

Lowell was a man of tremendous character and grit.  Lowell was at home on the back of a horse, and riding was one of the things that age took from him that he missed the most.  He loved his horses and all of his livestock.  He loved caring for the land and all that God had entrusted him with.

Lowell L. Johnston passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025 at the Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo.  He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Howard.  Lowell is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Joyce, his children Kent (Pam) Johnston of Arlington, CO and Kathy (Verle) Ansley of Marble Falls, TX.  Lowell is also survived by his six grandchildren: Taylyn, Tashna, Lacy, Jamie, Kelsey and Lindsay and by his 10 great grandchildren: Hudson, James, Jade, Lowell, Courtland, Rhett, Jase, Scarlet, Isabella and Emony.  Lowell is also survived by his brother and lifelong business partner Clifford Johnston of Arlington, CO.

Brown Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.