Terence W. ‘Wally’ Johnston, age 76, of Helena

Terence Wallace “Wally” Johnston, 76, of Helena, Montana, passed away on March 24, 2026. Born June 26, 1949, in Helena, he was the son of Terence “Rip” Johnston and Estelle “Bess” Johnston, née Sedgwick.

Wally spent his early years playing in the foothills of MacDonald Pass. After his family moved to town when he was 10, he spent his days delivering newspapers and occasionally giving the nuns at school a run for their money. He attended St. Helena Grade School and graduated from Cathedral High School.

After graduating in 1967, Wally enlisted in the United States Navy. He served aboard the USS America on the flight deck as a Green Shirt, helping launch and recover aircraft and working the catapult and arresting gear, one of the most dangerous jobs on the carrier. He completed two deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War before being honorably discharged in September 1971.

During his time in the Navy, something happened that would shape the rest of his life. In the summer of 1968, a friend sent Wally a photograph of herself with a few of her friends. One of them, a girl with long red hair, immediately caught his eye. Wally said he was going to meet her, and he did exactly that in 1969.

After two years and a lot of letters, Wally and Michelle Dawe were married on October 2, 1971, at the Cathedral of St. Helena. They went on to spend 54½ years happily married.

Wally later went to work on the Alaska Pipeline. When he returned to Helena, he started his own business, Economy Auto Body, which he ran for nearly 30 years.

Together, Wally and Michelle built a wonderful life in Helena. Their daughter Heather was born in 1976, and their son Travis followed in 1978. Wally loved being a dad and was always ready to show his kids how to do things and pass along the knowledge he had gained along the way.

Wally’s love of the water meant many days spent out on jet boats on lakes around Helena. Michelle eventually suggested he try racing boats like his father had. What followed was a 37-year run in APBA inboard hydroplane racing in the 5 Liter class, widely considered the toughest class on the water. Wally raced across 20 states and two Canadian provinces, winning numerous championships along the way, including divisional titles, national championships, a world championship, and ultimately setting a world record. In later years his boat, Agitator, was unmistakable on the water in its custom color, “Agitator Orange.”

Wally was always up for adventure. He took up scuba diving, and before long he and Michelle were traveling the world so he could explore remarkable dive sites, including the cave systems of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. He loved motorcycles and spent years taking annual rides with his brother Tom, traveling to Sturgis, across the Continental Divide, into Canada, and even all the way to Alaska on their Harleys. Never one to back down from a challenge, he also rode motorcycles through the Andes Mountains in Peru at over 14,000 feet in elevation. He fished in Alaska with family and friends, often with grizzly bears nearby. Wally even managed to get himself banned from go-kart tracks from Alaska to Virginia, a testament to both his competitive nature and his love of speed.

Once Wally became a grandfather to Chloe, Ty, and Kinney, he was determined to be a cool one, and a cool one he was. He loved spending time with his grandkids and making sure life with Grandpa was always fun. That spirit led him to create a game room in his basement for them, which eventually sparked a passion for restoring the pinball machines that filled it. In classic Wally fashion, he taught himself the craft and soon became the person people across Montana called when they needed a pinball machine restored, all without advertising.

Wally loved to travel and spent several years exploring the world with Michelle. Their adventures took them across the globe, with favorite destinations including Tahiti, Australia, and New Zealand. Over the years they also treated their children and grandchildren to memorable trips to Hawaii that often grew into joyful gatherings of extended family.

Incredibly outgoing and naturally gregarious, Wally had an easy way with people and was genuinely interested in their stories. Intelligent and largely self-taught, he approached life with curiosity and confidence. Whether building fast boats or engines, restoring pinball machines, or tackling a new project, the plans often lived entirely in his head rather than on paper. He was generous with what he knew and freely shared his knowledge, even with competitors.

He was also a remarkable storyteller, animated, detailed, and always ready to share a story from one of his many adventures. He loved to laugh and had a well-known appreciation for a good prank, often delighting in catching family and friends off guard with his sense of humor. His Catholic faith remained steadfast, and he took pride in sharing that faith with his children and grandchildren, teaching them their prayers and encouraging them to say them.

Wally lived life with curiosity, humor, and a spirit of adventure that touched everyone who knew him.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents, Terence “Rip” and Estelle “Bess” Johnston; his sister, Maureen Johnston; and his brother, Timothy Johnston.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle (Dawe) Johnston of Helena; his daughter, Heather (Jason) Reynolds of Helena; and his son, Terence “Travis” Johnston (Shannon) of Poulsbo, Washington. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Chloe (Braysen) Ellis of Oak Harbor, Washington, Ty Johnston of Poulsbo, Washington, and McKinley “Kinney” Johnston of Poulsbo, Washington.

He is further survived by his sister, Diana (Paul) Pfeiffer of Anchorage, Alaska, and his brother, Thomas (Lori) Johnston of Anchorage, Alaska, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 p.m. on April 8, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Helena. A procession will follow to the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison for military honors and inurnment in the columbarium at 1:30 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Green Meadow Country Club.

Family and friends are welcome to attend any or all of the services.

Memorial donations may be made in Wally’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Helena Food Share.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7

Service Schedule

Funeral Mass

12:00 p.m.

Wednesday April 8, 2026

Cathedral of St. Helena

530 N Ewing St.

Helena, Montana 59601

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Burial with Military Honors

Following Mass

Wednesday April 8, 2026

Montana State Veterans Cemetery

3550 Hero's Rd.

Fort Harrison, Montana 59636

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Reception

Following the burial

Wednesday April 8, 2026

Green Meadow Country Club

2720 Country Club Ave.

Helena, Montana 59601

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