Ronald Alan Johnson

Ronald Alan Johnson, the youngest and largest (11.5 lbs) of Gustav and Amy Johnson's children, was born in the family farmhouse north of Garfield, Minnesota on December 3rd, 1937. He passed away peacefully on January 13th, 2023 at the age of 85 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marlene; and sisters Marian Elness and Muriel Visness. He is survived by son Jeffrey (Charity Kreider); grandchildren Thea and Soren; sister Ardyce Anderson; and brother Dwight Johnson. "Alan" graduated from Central High in Alexandria in 1954 and later North Park Junior College in Chicago in 1956. Tired of saying "I go by my middle name," during a brief stint at the University of Minnesota, he began to go by his first name, Ron. He would go on to graduate from Moorhead State College in 1959 with a Bachelors in Science, majoring in mathematics and education. Ron enlisted in the Army in September 1960. After training in Texas and Oklahoma, he spent much of the next three years in Germany attaining the rank of SP5 as an artillery survey specialist. Returning to civilian life Ron worked as a computer programmer at IDS in downtown Minneapolis from 1963 to 1978. In 1978 he returned home to Douglas County where he worked as a computer programming instructor at Alexandria Technical College for the next 10 years. In 1988 the family moved back to the Twin Cities and Ron worked at various firms, retiring from Fair Isaac in Arden Hills on his 65th birthday in 2002. Ron met his future wife Marlene Warne in 1965 in South Minneapolis and the two were married on May 5, 1968. The early years of their relationship were highlighted by evenings spent with friends at Liquor Lyles, the CC Club or the local bowling alley. Later in life the pair spent countless hours snowmobiling, fishing, playing bingo, and traveling to Nevada a few times a year to play the slots. After nearly 48 years of marriage Marlene passed away on March 23, 2016 and was laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In 1982 (on his 45th birthday!) Ron required quadruple heart bypass surgery that was complicated by a bout of pneumonia which nearly took his life. He greeted each day thereafter with anticipation and thankfulness, and despite a few setbacks over the years maintained a very active and happy life right up to his final days. He was a gentle soul who approached life with a quiet confidence and usually found a way to make the best of any situation. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and great friend to many wonderful people. He even found a new love, Nancy, to share the final few years of his life with and Ron beamed with joy. A celebration of Ron's life will be held from 1-3 pm on Monday, January 23rd at Washburn-McReavy funeral home in Bloomington, MN. His ashes will be laid to rest at Ft. Snelling at a later date.

Tributes

Ronald Alan Johnson

December 3, 1937 - January 13, 2023

Tributes

Ronald Alan Johnson

December 3, 1937 - January 13, 2023

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