Frances "Jean" Johnston

Frances "Jean" Johnston, 89, of Sidney, formerly of Gering, died Nov. 26, 2014 at the Medical Center of the Rockies at Loveland, Colo. Her funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 1, 2014 at Gering Memorial Chapel with Pastor Lyle Hinebauch officiating. Interment will be held at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Visitation will be 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Gering Memorial Chapel. Online condolences may be left at http://www.geringchapel.com

Jean was born July 3, 1925 at Omaha, to Guy and Clara (Moran) Leach. The family moved to the Sandhills where she was raised and educated around the Whitman and Mullen area. The family moved to Gering and Jean graduated from Gering High School with the Class of 1943. She was united in marriage to Bob Johnston on Sept. 14, 1941 at Wichita Falls, TX. After Bob's service to his country, he returned to help with the family ranch in the Sandhills. The family purchased a ranch in Broadus, Mont. which they ran for several years before moving to Scottsbluff in 1955. Bob and Jean made their home in the Valley for the rest of their married life.

Jean worked outside the home for several stores including: Helen's House of Style, McCosh Drug, Muehlbergers, Zoellners, and most recently Herbergers. She had a flair for fashion and was not afraid of hard work. She worked until ill health forced her retirement in 2000. She moved to Sidney to be closer to her family. She was a member of the Central Church of Christ in Gering, the DOES BPOE #21 in Scottsbluff, and was an avid bowler.

She is survived by her son Bob Johnston of Alliance, daughter and son-in-law Cindy and Rocky Rising of Sutherland; son and daughter-in-law Sid and Barb Johnston of Sidney; grandchildren Nakol, Tonya, Dawn, Kasey, Kody, Kirby, Chelsea, and Josh; great-grandchildren Cheyenne, Payje, Mackayla, Kenadi, Taylor, Logan, Gage, Hayden, Quincee; sisters-in-law Winifred Nichols of Denver and Dorothy Johnston of Mullen; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob in 1992, brothers Duane Leach and Boyd Leach and sister Isabelle Gable.