Robert Byron Johnson Phd Jd

Robert Byron (Bob) Johnson died Monday, July 28 2025, three weeks after celebrating his 90th birthday with family members.

Bob was born July 7, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Byron Franklin Johnson and Bernice Quigley Johnson.

after living briefly in Milwaukee and New Orleans, he spent the remainder of his childhood in Missouri, dividing his time between St. Louis and the small farming community of Galt. In Galt he formed close friendships with schoolmates that lasted for decades. His paternal aunt and uncle, Elvia and Jack McCracken played an important role in his upbringing and were very close to him for the rest of their lives.

After serving in the National Guard and graduating from the University of Missouri with a business degree, he earned an MS in Accounting from Washington University in St Louis. Bob spent the next decade working as an auditor and systems analyst, landing at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque NM where he was involved in the early era of implementing computers for data analysis. During this decade his children Kathryn, Steve and Eric were born. early in the 1970’s Bob decided to pursue a graduate degree in Counseling while continuing to work as a systems analyst. While in graduate school he met his future wife and live of his life, Deborah Kim Minnotte. They were married in 1974, and moved to South Dakota where Bob managed the staff for the Department of Social Services.

Bob supported Deborah as she pursued her dream of becoming a physician, They moved to California for her residency and first practice, and later to Dallas, Oregon where they have lived for the past 35 years. Their son Colin was born in 1986.

Once Deborah’s practice was established, Bob pursued one last degree, earning his JD from Willamette University and passing the Oregon State Bar Exam.

Bob was a man who loved to learn and had a wide variety of interests and pursuits. He and Deborah shared a love of good food and wine, art and cultural events, hosting friends for dinners and movie nights and spending time on the Oregon Coast. They were active in the UU Congregation of Salem.

He enjoyed the beauty of the Oregon landscape and life at their country home. Bob had a terrific sense of humor and was a first rate storyteller. He stayed close to his adult children and their families and was always interested in hearing updates about his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years, Deborah Minnotte Johnson, MD, his children Kathryn (Bill), Steve (Pam), Eric, Colin (Alison) and Michael (Molly). Grand children Kate, Jon, Melissa, Stephanie, Kelsey, Dylan, Jake, Madison, Isaiah, Anna, Jack, Luke, Emery and Ali and 5 great grandchildren