Raymond W. Johnson

RAYMOND W. JOHNSON

Raymond W. Johnson, age 89 of West Des Moines, Iowa and formerly of Northfield, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2008 in Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am Wednesday, April 30th at the Church of St Dominic in Northfield with burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-7:00 pm at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield and at the Church on Wednesday 1 hour prior to Services.

Raymond Working Johnson was born December 4, 1918 in Alexandria, MN, son of Peter and Emma (Working) Johnson. After high school he started working as a photographer and when WWII began he enlisted in the Army serving from June of 1941 until the end of the war. Later he began working at the G.T. Sheldahl Company in Northfield as an engineer and continued with Sheldahl’s until his retirement.

On July 1, 1961 he was united in marriage to Loretto (Heffernan) Loula at the Church of St Dominic and they made their home in Northfield. They were very active in their church and volunteered in many parish activities. They spent time at their family cabin near Alexandria and loved to travel. Following retirement they spent winters in Arizona and took a number of trips to a horse ranch in Montana. In his early years Raymond loved to hunt and fish and continued his passion with photography throughout his life.

Ray Johnson is survived by daughter Mary (Roger) Vanden Branden of Clive, Iowa; son Tim (Ruth) Loula of Cleveland, MN; grandchildren Kristin (Dan) Clark, Teri (Warren) Stubbs, Joe (Krystal) Loula, and Christy (Bryan) Bode; and 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Loretto Johnson and ½ brother Russell Johnson.

Memorials to St Dominic’s School or Fountain West Health Care Center in West Des Moines, IA. Funeral arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.