Mansch On Montana: Jeff Johnson's many friends include the Hauck family

(UPDATE on Dec. 6: We have learned that Jeff Johnson has died. Our condolences to his family and many friends. S. Mansch)

We told you last week about Jeff Johnson, the Big Timber businessman and father of two who has been dealing with colon cancer for nearly a decade.

And how Benefis Mercy Flight came to his rescue and provided free transportation home when an insurance company balked.

Jeff and his wife, Laura, are back home in Big Timber.

“We have been overwhelmed with kind words from so many community members and statewide on social media,” Laura says. “We had many visitors all week and many messages, phone calls, emails, etc., from friends all over the U.S. saying they were so thankful for Mercy Flight and to wish Jeff and our family prayers and comfort.

“Jeff,” she adds, “has touched many lives.”

Including one of Montana’s first football families.

Here then is the rest of the story of Jeff Johnson, who grew up with Bobby Hauck and his little brother Tim.

THE HAUCK BROTHERS and their family lived across the alley from the Johnsons years ago in Big Timber.

 “Our parents were great friends and our families are close,” says Bobby, the former head football coach of the Montana Grizzlies who is now assistant head coach at San Diego State. “We’ve been in close touch with them through the years and have never really lost that, so we’ve been following Jeff’s turmoil with the cancer stuff from the get-go. He keeps fighting it.

“It’s a rugged deal. And heartbreaking.”

MORE:It was a merciful flight indeed

Last week when Jeff was in Chula Vista, Calif., and Laura was faithfully trying to get him home, efforts that proved frustrating until Mercy Flight swooped in to save the day, Bobby made the time to visit them.

Because what hurts the Johnsons hurts the Haucks.

Jeff’s struggle, Bobby says, also provides inspiration.

“He’s been remarkable,” Bobby says. “Jeff has gone to all ends of the earth to try to beat it and has always kept a positive outlook. Even when I saw him last week and he wasn’t feeling good, he had a smile on his face. That’s admirable when you’re up against something like this.”

TIM HAUCK WAS an All-American football player at Montana who played 13 years in the NFL. He was particularly hard-nosed in a Grizzly uniform and earned the nickname “Hitter” for the ferocity of his tackles.

Thinking about Jeff, he says, reduces Tim to tears.

“That’s a really good family,” says Tim, who is an assistant football coach in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. “The Johnsons were an extension of the Hauck family, to tell you the truth. We did a lot together.”

The group included Jeff’s late brother, Dan, who was afflicted with muscular dystrophy and passed away years ago.

Dan was in a wheelchair his entire life.

“He was paralyzed,” Tim says, “but kind of like the rest of their family, Dan had a great personality. Even though he was in his wheelchair he was one of us. He was fun to be around.”

TIM CALLED Jeff earlier this week before the Eagles played the Panthers on Thursday Night Football.

“Had a great conversation with him,” Tim says. “It makes you realize what a tough son-of-a-gun he is. He’s been fighting this for a long time. Doing it to stick around with his family and his kids and spend a little more time with them. And doing everything possible to make what time he has left count.”

Tim has traveled throughout the country, of course, during his football career. But friends back home in Montana small towns ultimately are more memorable than bright lights in the big city.

“It’s the truth,” Tim says. “That’s a fact. I think I realize it as much as anybody, as much as I’ve traveled and lived different places. Montana is always home. You always have the people there who are calling you, leaving you messages and looking out for you and keeping track of you.”

One can leave Montana, but the love for this land never goes away.

“You know one person here or there and pretty soon you have a connection with everybody in the state,” Tim says.

It was not easy to make the phone call to his desperately ill friend.

“But,” he says, then pauses.

“You really enjoy having time to talk to him," Tim says softly. "Not even talking about what’s going on with his illness. But talking about life in general. I really enjoyed it and I’m going to try to stay in touch with them as things go on, too.”

JEFF’S FATHER, Steve Johnson, passed away last summer after battling multiple myeloma, and his brother passed away many years ago from a form of muscular dystrophy.

Jeff’s mother, Linda Johnson, and Eleanore Hauck – Bobby and Tim’s mom - have been friends for decades.

“Linda has had to deal with so much,” says Eleanore.

Eleanore lives in Missoula, so she’s not able to comfort her friend as much as she’d like.

“Linda has so many good friends in Big Timber. She’s the type of person who doesn’t tell anybody ‘no,’ “ Eleanore says. “She’s a person who’s always there to help someone. Plus she has her 90-something mother and dad living there in Big Timber that she’s taking care of.

“Linda is an amazing, amazing person. She’s wonderful. She really is.”

ELEANORE SAYS Danny, Jeff’s late brother, provided the Johnson and Hauck siblings an important lesson in his short life.

“I always felt it taught the kids to be a little compassionate,” Eleanore says. “They would wheel him to school, or help him in and out of his wheelchair. They were really good with Danny, and I think that was a good lesson for everybody.”

JEFF AND LAURA Johnson are thankful.

They appreciate what Mercy Flight did for them, and they appreciate friends like the Haucks that mean so much.

Jeff is in home hospice and treasures each day with his family.

And trust me, his family and friends treasure him.

“He is a patient teacher to our children and his whole world has revolved around family,” Laura says. “He has taught us strength, courage, perseverance and hope amidst his nine years of cancer treatments.”

Mansch On Montana appears most Mondays in the Tribune. Scott Mansch can be reached at 791-1481 or smansch@greatfallstribune.com