Ralph LaVern JOHNSON

JOHNSON, ERICKSEN, SMITH, BENGTSON, KREAMER, LINDSEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/25/2009 at 14:58:51

February 17, 2009
Belmond Independent, Iowa

Ralph Johnson, 82, Belmond, died February 14, 2009 at the Belmond Health Care Center. Services were held February 17 at the Belmond United Methodist Church with Pastor Mike Druhl officiating. Burial with millitary honors was at the Belmond Cemetery.

Ralph LaVern Johnson was born January 24, 1927 at home in Cedar township, Cherokee County. His parents, Eric and Ellen Ericksen Johnson, both emigrated from Sweden in their teens. Ralph showed baby beef cattle while active in 4-H. He graduated from high school in Larrabee in 1944. In January 1945 he enlisted in the Navy and attended radio school in Indianapolis. He also played tuba in the Navy band. He was honorably discharged as a Radioman 2nd Class after having been stationed at the fleet broadcasting station in Guam. He married Maurene Smith of Paullina on June 5, 1947. After farming in northwest Iowa for ten years, Ralph became an assistant plant manager for the Steckley Genetic Giant seed corn company in DeWitt. He served as a district sales manager in Chillicothe, MO and later was transferred to Sycamore, IL by successor company Tomco Genetic Giant. Ralph served as president of the Sycamore parent-teacher organization and president of the DeKalb Public Speaking Club. He also served as committee chairman for Boy Scout troops in both Sycamore and Chillicothe. Upon his promotion to Regional Sales Manager for Acco Seed Company, he moved to Belmond in 1968 and resigned from that position in 1979. During the 1970's he served as president of the Central Iowa Sales Executive and Marketing Directors Association. Ralph retired from his sales career in 1995 after working six years with Confinement Engineers of Atlantic and ten years with the Iowa Lottery. Church activities were an important part of his active life during retirement. He served on a number of church committees and the board of trustees at Belmond United Methodist. He was a volunteer driver for the Belmond Community Care Car and was president of its board of directors in 2000. He loved to help with spring planting and fall harvesting at Buseman Farms. One highlight was watching his grandson Jonathan graduate from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center where he also received his naval training.

He was preceded in death by daughter Julie Sue; brother Loren of San Diego; brother Vernon in infancy, and sister Lenora Bengtson of Aurelia. Ralph is survived by his wife; sons Jay (Marilyn) Johnson of Granger and Eugene (Jane) Johnson of Le Mars; grandchildren Eric (Jennifer) Johnson of Des Moines, Andrew Johnson (fiancé Amy Kreamer) of Grimes, Jessica (James) Lindsey of Urbandale, Jonathan Johnson of Norfolk and Rebecca Johnson of Ames; and great-grandchildren Ella Ann Johnson of Des Moines and Jesse James Lindsey of Urbandale.