Ethan Johnson

Ethan Johnson of Canmore, passed away peacefully in his home in the early morning of Saturday, December 13, 2014 in the presence of his wife and family after a 2 year battle with brain cancer.

Ethan was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico to Jon and Diane Johnson. His family moved to Montana in January of 1996.

Ethan received a B.A. in history and an M.A. in military history from the University of Montana. At the time of his diagnosis, he was writing his thesis for a PhD. in Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary.

First and foremost, Ethan was a skier. In his youth he was a ski racer at Pajarito Mountain in Los Alamos and with the Big Mountain Race team in Whitefish, Montana. He was employed for one winter by the Department of Defense as a ski instructor in Garmisch, Germany. After migrating to Canada to continue his studies, he was employed as a coach for Rocky Mountain Freeriders at Lake Louise and as a ski guide at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. He was also an accomplished mountain biker and coached at Kicking Horse in the summer. In his work, he touched many lives, young and old, sharing his love for the mountains.

Shortly before his diagnosis, he met the love of his life, Sonja Hehli, at a coffee shop in Canmore and they were inseparable for the next two years. They were wed twice in two separate ceremonies, the first on the Bow River on February 25, 2013 and the second in Whitefish, Montana on September 7, 2013.

Ethan is survived by his loving wife Sonja of Canmore, his parents Jon and Diane Johnson of Whitefish, his brother Adam Johnson of Big Sky, Montana and the extended Hehli family of central Alberta.

A memorial service was held at the base of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on Thursday, December 18, 2014, following a day of skiing.

Memorial contributions may be made to gripenrecoveryfund@gmail.com via paypal for a fund which will be established to support adaptive skiing programs in Ethan's memory.

The family would like to express its deepest appreciation for the care provided by the team of the Tom Baker Cancer Center,

Dr. Gerald Duggleby, and especially the nurses and staff of the Canmore community care team who made it possible for us to care for Ethan at home.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.