Danny Johnston

DANNY DEAN JOHNSTON, 82, of Big Springs, Nebraska, passed away January 27, 2026, at Devonshire Acres in Sterling, Colorado.

Danny was born July 21, 1943, in Fairfield, Iowa, to Glenn L. Johnston and Kathleen M. (Kerr) Johnston. He attended school in Iowa and graduated from Birmingham High School in 1962.

Danny went to work early in life. He began driving a school bus at the age of 15, then moved into trucking a year later; trucking would remain an inextricable part of his life from that point on. Danny spent decades hauling freight across the country. Even after retiring from full-time driving around 2000, he continued working part-time for many years, hauling fertilizer, agricultural products, and propane. As one might expect of a trucker with over a million miles between Denver and the Eastern United States, Danny had friends all over the country. He enjoyed his retirement spending his winters in Arizona with Gloria where they made many friend and memories.

Danny was a people person through and through. He never met a stranger and loved to visit-whether it was over coffee, a meal out, somewhere along the road, or a chance encounter downtown in Big Springs. He stayed connected with family and friends and liked to keep up on what was happening. He enjoyed NASCAR and appreciated a good-looking vehicle. When it came to his own truck, Danny was adamant about keeping it polished and clean. He also loved Husker football and represented the Big Red wherever he went.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Kent; his son, Neil; his companion and best friend, Gloria K. McCabe; and his siblings, Gary and Beverly.

Survivors include his children, Ashley (Lucas) Stoneking of Julesburg, Colorado, Tyler (Kynthia) Johnston of Wichita, Kansas, and Denise Ferrel Johnston of Washington, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Jill Johnston of Des Moines, IA; grandchildren, Taylor (Haley) Swinscoe, Elijah (Kennedy) Carey, Erin Harlan, Dallas Johnston, Sofia Stoneking, Camille Stoneking, Luke Johnston, Cora Johnston and Owen Johnston; 8 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Loretta Johnston; many nieces and nephews; and his "grandsons of the heart," Jonathan and Steven Coleman, along with many other relatives and friends.

No local services are planned at this time. Interment of cremains will be held on April 25 at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala and Julesburg is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsjulesburg.com.