Dorothy Johnson, Writer

Nominator:

Beth Judy

Who is my bold woman?

Dorothy Johnson

Where and when did she live?

Johnson was born in Iowa in 1905 but grew up in Whitefish, MT. She lived in NYC for many years but returned to MT--to Whitefish, then Missoula—where she died in 1984.

What did she do?

Johnson pursued a writer’s life and had 3 short stories (America’s favorite reading material at the time) turned into movies (eg, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”). She also edited a women’s magazine in NYC for years, worked for the Whitefish newspaper when she moved back, then taught journalism in Missoula. She promoted the legendary “Flathead Lake Monster” and was very funny.

What does she mean to me?

The stories of other writers inspire me. Life wasn’t easy for Johnson. Her dad died early, her mom and she scraped by, and she was unlucky in love. But she dedicated herself to writing and good research. She made fun of herself and spread fun and laughter through her humor. She persisted.    

Her autobiography, “When You and I were Young, Whitefish,” is delightful--especially the part about her job as an early telephone operator. I include her here because I had to cut her from my book--we didn’t have room, sad!