Ruth W. Johnson

Ruth W. Johnson, age 97, of Willmar, passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 19, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, at the Willmar United Methodist Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Union Cemetery in Atwater. Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

Ruth Winnifred Johnson was born on Feb. 12, 1924, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Archie and Ellen Victoria (Halberg) Oslund. She grew up with her sister, Eloise on the family farm South of Atwater near Lake Elizabeth. Ruth attended grade school at District #38 and graduated from Atwater High School in 1942.

Ruth met Russell Martin Johnson while in school before the start of WW II. They were united in marriage while Russell was home on leave on July 3, 1945. Russell was reassigned to a Naval facility in Washington, D.C., and Ruth traveled with him. Following Russell’s discharge in September of 1945, they returned to Atwater and made their home on Lake Carrie. Russell became a plumber and Ruth became a homemaker and mother of two boys, Gaylan and Gale.

Ruth was a soft-spoken woman who raised her family with great loving care. When Archie became diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she soldiered on and did her best to keep him at home and the family together. Ruth was a resourceful and spirited woman who was deeply devoted to family.

She is survived by her two sons, Gaylan Johnson of Chicago, Illinois and Gale Johnson of Willmar; two grandchildren, Matthew and Emily and one great granddaughter, Elisa, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell in 2001, and four siblings, Milton, Harriet, Mildred and Eloise.