John Robert "Bob" Johnston

John Robert “Bob” Johnston of Scottsbluff entered his heavenly home on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the age of 96. Our beloved Papa Bear leaves behind a lifetime of cherished memories, lessons learned, and love shared with family and friends. He was a devoted provider for his family and a man who found joy in the simple pleasures of life, including a good joke. His Celebration of Life will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 5, 2027, at The Scottsbluff YMCA Trails West Camp Fliesbach Retreat Center, 1918 Beltline Hwy W, Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In honor of Bob’s love for The Sugar Valley Rally and vintage automobiles, guests are warmly encouraged to arrive in their favorite classic or vintage car as a special tribute to this family of car culture enthusiasts. The family kindly requests that all memorials go to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org. Online condolences and fond memories may be expressed on Bob’s obituary page, viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Bob was born on August 1, 1930, to James Lester Johnston and Verna Ellen (Kirkendall) Johnston in Sutherland, Nebraska. He graduated from Sutherland High School in 1948. During his high school years, he was introduced to the two loves of his life. A 1925 Model T Coupe, that he purchased in 1947 for $15 and promptly spent $20 on new tires. It was with this car that he courted and won the heart of Shirley Ann Law, as he was too broke to spend money on her too.

On March 8, 1949, Bob and Shirley eloped to Council Bluffs, Iowa. They returned to Sutherland where, over the following years, their four children were born. The Bob Johnston family moved to Scottsbluff in 1965, where Bob accepted a position with Farmland Industry as a traveling auditor. In 1970, he took a senior accounting position with Panhandle Coop, where he worked until 1984. He then went to work for Bailey’s Grocery Store as a “Jack of all trades” and retired in 1992.

Bob enjoyed outdoor adventures with family and friends. Camping, fishing, water skiing, and road trips that yielded to generational storytelling are plentiful. In his later years, he especially enjoyed gardening, where he found satisfaction in watching things grow and flourish.

As an original member of The Sugar Valley Rally steering committee in 1988, participating in the annual event was what kept him motivated. Bob was quite proud of the fact that he participated in 30 of the 31 years as a navigator. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who joined him through the years fondly remember his affection for the event.

Above all, his greatest legacy is the family he loved and the generations who will carry his memory forward. His wisdom, stories, hard work, and exuberance for life will remain in the hearts of those who knew him. The memories he created and the values he passed down will continue to grow, much like the gardens he tended with such care. His life stood as a testament to the dignity of honest labor and the deep love that comes from a lifetime of providing for those he held dear. Together, he and his beloved wife built a life filled with laughter and family, creating a lasting example of devotion through all of life's seasons.

Those left to cherish his memories and Model T collection are his wife, Shirley; daughters, Shirley Mae (Dan) Fiester, LJ (Chuck) Guthman, and Elizabeth “Betsy” Ellison; son, John “JJ” (Linda) Johnston; The Sugar Valley Rally cars, a 1919 Model T Center Door “Maude”, a 1925 Model T Roadster, a 1925 Doodlebug Tractor “Bug”, a 1926 Ford Touring Car, a 1927 Ford Model T Truck, and a 1954 Chevy 210 “Charlie Brown” the family car his wife and children learned to drive in; seven grandchildren; and twenty great-grandchildren.