William George Johnston III

LAKEVILLE — Bill Johnston passed away Nov. 19, 2007, days short of his 97th birthday.

He was born Nov. 26, 1910, in Derby, Vt. Of the 10 children born to David and Catherine Johnston, who immigrated from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1906, he was the only one born in the United States. All the others were born and remained Canadians. When "Uncle Bill" came to visit, it was always cause for reunion and celebration.

Of his life, there are a thousand rich memories. In 1939, Bill placed an ad for himself in the New England Homestead Journal, which brought him to Salisbury, where he hired on as teamster and farmhand with John Rand. It was there on Hamet Hill that Bill met and married Irene "Tiny" Gianotti of Millerton. They were married in 1942 and their daughter, Nancy, was born the following year.

Bill never served in World War II, instead remaining at Hamlet Hill while the Rand boys were overseas. By the end of the war, Bill had mastered every aspect of this 900-acre, 50-horse, complex farming operation. After the farm was sold, Bill moved to Lakeville to work for Frederick Bauer at Larchmeadow Farm, where he continued until he retired in 1975.

During those years, farming was often cooperative and Bill lent a hand on many farms now long gone — Belter, Lorch, Dean. At Larchmeadow, Bill was encouraged to modernize at every opportunity; he showed registered Hereford cattle and earned top honors at the Eastern States Exposition.

After retiring from the farm, Bill continued his many pasttimes, including beekeeping, bowling, pitching horseshoes and gardening on a grand scale. It is not known exactly when he started planting sweet corn, but in the beginning Bill delivered bags of sweet corn as far away as Cornwall Bridge for three cents an ear.

Bill was known in the Northwest Corner for many things. He cut, split and delivered firewood. Bill and Jack Clyburn, manager of Town Hill Farm, used to barbecue (almost anything) and fry chicken Southern-style for various events. Bill continued to cook after Jack was gone, and taught others by example.

Bill hunted and introduced many young people to hunting and outdoor lore. His exploits were legendary and he loved hunting stories, but one of the best was about the time he was attacked by a rabid raccoon. Somehow the image of Bill thrashing around in a half-frozen brook with a coon attached to his rubber boot always got a laugh from his many friends.

Bill joined the Masonic lodge in 1957 and became a Shriner in 1958. He served his lodge as Worshipful Master in 1964. Over the years, Bill served on many committees and helped new masons learn their lectures. Bill is especially remembered for his involvement in the Montgomery Lodge lobster sales, of which he missed only two in their 38-year history.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Johnston Hosticka of Hawaii; his granddaughter, Serina, and her husband, Aaron; and great-grand children Lillian and Zane Parmenter of Oregon. In Canada, he is survived by his brother Douglas and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Salisbury Cemetery. After a short Masonic service, there will be a reception at the Lakeville Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome at both events.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the J. Kenneth Athoe Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Montgomery Lodge, PO Box 207, Lakeville, CT 06039.