It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Bill (William H.) Johnstone on July 13, 2025. Bill left us surrounded by family and friends and a whole lot of love.
Bill was born on August 20, 1946, in Moose Jaw, SK to Betty and Lloyd Johnstone. He was raised on the Johnstone Dairy Farm. Bill started his education at the Coburg School, which was a one-room schoolhouse. He then attended Westmount Elementary School and Riverview and Peacock Collegiates.
Bill was always active and social and involved in numerous sports and clubs throughout his life. Bill received his Vocational Agriculture Diploma from the U of S and then his auctioneering certificate from Iowa. Lloyd, Betty, Wayne and Bill opened the Johnstone Auction Mart in 1968. Bill started farming the land and raising cattle on the original Johnstone farm shortly after. Bill and Lynn Small married in 1970. They then welcomed two daughters, Lori and Krista.
Along with the farm, Bill branched into auctioneering for himself and got into other pursuits with friends: Sleeping Buffalo Resort, the Pense Hotel, rental houses, the Dairy Queen in Regina and Casa Canada in Nicaragua. He was also a Councillor and Reeve of the RM of Moose Jaw for many years and a candidate for the Liberal Party. Bill was a very proud member of the Moose Jaw Shrine Equestrian Unit.
One of Bill’s proudest accomplishments was becoming Grandpa to Kiara and Mikayla. He loved watching them play their sports and activities throughout the years.
Bill and Lynn loved to travel and had wonderful adventures where they met great friends and would connect with family from near and far.
Bill was predeceased by his parents Lloyd and Betty, in-laws Fred and Marion Small, brother Wayne and numerous cousins, friends, loyal furry companions and his horse, Dan. He leaves behind his loving wife of fifty-four years, Lynn, daughters Lori and Krista (Jamie) and granddaughters Kiara and Mikayla. He is also survived by his sister Char Francis, sisters- and brothers-in-law: Dorothy Johnstone, Stewart Small, Ron and Betty Anne Cooper, Sue McKenzie and Girv Girvan. He will also be remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
What we can all learn from Bill is to never stop adventuring and to live life to the fullest.
We appreciate the care Bill received from the staff at Pioneer Lodge in the last six weeks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Moose Jaw Shrine Club, 1767 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK S6J 1L6 https://moosejawshrineclub.wildapricot.org/donate or Heartland Hospice Palliative Care Unit at Pioneer Lodge, Box 334, Moose Jaw, SK, S6H 4N9 https://donorbox.org/heartland-hospice-moose-jaw
Please join us in a Celebration of Life on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the Masonic Temple at 1755 Main St N, Moose Jaw. Jim Martin to officiate. Bill’s final resting place is at the family plot in Rosedale Cemetery.
Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.ca (Obituaries).
Dayna Chamberlain- Funeral Director
