Raymond Keith Johnson

The good Lord took Ray home the evening of February 16, 2019.

Raymond Keith Johnson was born in Glaslyn, Saskatchewan on July 20, 1929 to John Alfred and Julia Olina (Paulson) Johnson.

When he was in the fifth grade, the family moved back to Northwestern Minnesota. He graduated from Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, Minnesota in 1947. In 2001, NWSA honored him with their highest honor, the "Top Aggie Award".

In 1950 during the Korean Conflict, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years , spending most of his time as an instructor in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He met his lovely wife, Joanne D. Beck, who was also in the Air Force, and they were married in 1954.

Following the service, Ray attended the University of North Dakota and earned his bachelor’s degree in Engineering. There he became involved in Toastmasters and won several speaking contests. Upon graduation from UND , he worked for Sangamo Electric Company (later bought out by Schlumberger) in Springfield, Illinois. . He was honored as the company's Salesman of the Year for North American and International Operations along with many other awards. After the birth of his daughter, Lori, he moved to Ft. Worth, Texas, where his son, Gregory was born.

After ten years in Texas, Ray moved his family to Overland Park, Kansas where he spent the next ten years. Raymond held church offices and was committee chairman of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 284 for 5 years. The family then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he lived for over 35 years.

After retiring, he volunteered for 20 years at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science. He organized the Montgomery, Ohio yearly Independence Day float for the WWII veterans. He was a member of the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels, a charitable organization. In Cincinnati he was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

After his wife Joanne died, he moved to Mesa, Arizona to be close to his brother, Lorne. He spent winters in Mesa and summers in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He loved attending musical jam sessions , the Silver Ridge singles groups, NW Ag reunions, and playing cards. His best times were spent with his dear companion, Barb Pavek, who was with him when he died.

Ray was an ardent golfer and won many trophies. He loved to go fly fishing in Colorado, taking yearly trips there for decades. He was proud of his 100% Norwegian Lutheran heritage and would drive miles to a Lutefisk and Lefse dinner. He loved singing along to country music. He enjoyed traveling , especially his trip to Alaska in his motor home. After his wife died, he taught himself to cook and loved having friends over for dinner.

He often said , "I've had a good life." He enjoyed his work, family and his many friends. He was known for generosity. There are many stories of him showing up to a young couple's house with some thick steaks, surprising friends with a gift, or paying for a veteran's meal. He will be remembered as a kind and gentle "people person" who enjoyed every day to the full and cherished his relationships. He was a good husband, father and friend.

He leaves to mourn his passing two children, his daughter , Dr. Lori L. Hake and her husband, Dan, of Norman, Oklahoma, and his son, Gregory G. Johnson and his wife, Lisa, of Overland Park, Kansas; four grandchildren, Alexander Hake of Lincoln City, Oregon, Erica Johnson of Charlottesville, Virginia, Meredith Johnson of Boston, Massachusetts, and Sarah Hake of Norman, Oklahoma; two great grandchildren, Leilah Hake and Caspian Hake of Noble, Oklahoma; one brother, Lorne Johnson of Mesa, Arizona; one sister, Karleen Eberly of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Johnson, and his brothers, Curtiss and Calmer Johnson.

www.mariposagardens.com