Carnival 2018: Johannsen named King, Johnson named Queen
Paul Johannsen was named King Ullr LIX and Lani Johnson was crowned Queen of Snows for the Whitefish Winter Carnival. (Photos by Jill Courtney)
Two longtime Whitefish community supporters and volunteers have been named the King and Queen for the 59th annual Whitefish Winter Carnival.
During a coronation ceremony Saturday at the O’Shaughnessy Center downtown, Paul Johannsen was named King Ullr LIX and Lani Johnson was crowned Queen of Snows.
Queen of the Snows Lani Johnson
Lani Johnson was born in Hamilton. She grew up in Anaconda, and moved to Whitefish as a sophomore in high school. She worked at Gordy’s Drive-in as a car hop, then headed to beauty school right after graduation.
Johnson first worked at Sandra’s Salon, now Latitude 48. The salon was moved to its current location and renamed the Hair Hut. Johnson celebrated 50 years in business last July.
Johnson is a skier and is very active with the Big Mountain Ski Club. She has been a Carnival supporter as a Penguin for many years. Johnson previously, along with her fellow Penguin friends, received the High Ullr Award for their service to Winter Carnival.
Johnson has been a hiker and loves Glacier National Park. Her favorite quiet time is with family and friends at the family cabin by Glacier. When she’s at home, she enjoys trying to garden and spending time with her sister, Susi, and her three dogs.
King Ullr LIX Paul Johannsen
A fourth generation Montanan, Paul Johannsen was raised in Sunburst. He attended Montana State University and then worked for the Farm Credit System in Bozeman and Missoula, then First Bank/U.S. Bank and First Interstate Bank in Missoula.
Johannsen moved to Whitefish in 2003 to take a job as President of First Interstate Bank. In 2006, Johannsen left the banking industry to become the Managing Member of Great Northern Ventures LLC, a real estate development company. In 2010 he became the Managing Partner of National Parks Realty.
Johannsen has served on several local boards including the Whitefish Community Foundation, Whitefish Lake Golf Club, Flathead County Economic Development Authority, Glacier Airline Enhancement and Outreach, Inc. (Glacier AERO), North Valley Hospital Foundation and Bulldog Boosters. He has also been active in fundraising for the Memorial Field Stadium and the 2008 High School Bond Committee.
In 2012, Johannsen served as Prime Minister to King ULLR LIII and has been the Chair of the Whitefish Winter Carnival Board of Directors since that time.