Ron M. Johnson

Ronald M. “Ron” Johnson, 56 a long time businessman from Devils Lake, ND passed away at Mercy Hospital on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Funeral Services for Ron are being held on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Jeff Nicla will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Time of Remembrance and Sharing at 7:30 p.m. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Ron will be Terry Armstrong, Daren Thorsell, Merlin Helten, Gary Johnson, Cory McKelvey, Steve Juntunen, Tim Kiemele, Clifford Reeves, Jeff Halverson and Lloyd Hintz. Honorary Bearers will be all those dear friends and relatives that helped in our time of need. Ronald Marvin Johnson was born in Cando, ND on July 3, 1954 the son of Delbert and Dorothy (Tohm) Johnson. He was raised on the family farm at Egeland and attended Egeland Public School graduating from Egeland High School with the class of 1972. He continued his education at Lake Region Junior College and was certified as an auto mechanic. He then worked for a time in Cando and later at Harrington’s Inc. and Powell Ford as a mechanic. Ron was united in marriage to his sweetheart, Patricia A. “Patty” Hoeltl on January 9, 1976 at Devils Lake where they established their home and raised their family. Ron taught auto mechanics at the Devils Lake High School Vo-Tech Center for a time and then in 1984 he formerly opened his own business—Ron’s Repair. He continued as owner and operator until the time of his death. Ron loved working on cars; his work was his passion. He also enjoyed riding motorcycle, stating, “it gave you such a feeling of freedom” and experienced great trips with his son and friends. Ron was a member of the ABATE Motorcycle Club. Camping at the lake was always a welcome summer get-away. Family was very important to him and of course, he made sure the grandkids got rides on the golf cart, 4-wheeler, tractor and skid steer. Nothing delighted him more than to give fast boat rides to both his children and grandchildren as well as trying to dunk them off the tube. He also found solitude in riding on the Jet Ski. Ron was a deer hunter, so of course he soon became a “Master Mixer” when it came to processing the deer for sausage and jerky. Ron enjoyed watching boxing and it became more special when his grandson Aiden was able to watch it with him. Ron’s many unique qualities are what made him such a special son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and godfather; and were evident to each member of his family. His distinctive sense of humor, his love of a good practical joke and his good nature were what made him such a special person. He loved to tease the grandchildren as well as his family and friends. His sense of humor was with him until the end. We will hold him in our hearts forever. Ron is survived by his wife Patty; children January and her husband Grant Obenchain of Devils Lake, Heather and her husband Jason Lee of Britton, South Dakota and Jared (Heather Schiele) Johnson also of Devils Lake; grandchildren Jarret and Ethan Obenchain, Aiden, Abigail and soon to be born Baby Ailyn Lee; mother Dorothy Johnson of Cando; sisters and brothers Carole and her husband Lloyd Hintz of Devils Lake, Kenny Johnson of Fargo, Linda and her husband Don Shock of Cando, Diane and her husband Jeff Halverson also of Devils Lake, and Angie Freund of Cando; father-in-law, Harry Abercrombie of Devils Lake; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Jackie Spychalla, Devils Lake, Greg Hoeltl, Fargo, Richard Hoeltl, Devils Lake, Harry Dale(Julie Hedstrom) Abercrombie, Fargo and Rita (Dave) Calderon of Portland, Texas; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Ron was preceded in death by his grandparents; father Delbert and mother-in-law, Betty Abercrombie. One of Ron’s last wishes was to take one last motorcycle trip to Montana with his son and spend the summer riding motorcycle. Those wishing to escort Ronnie to his last resting place are welcome to join the motorcycle procession to the Devils Lake cemetery. Friends may sign the online register book and share memories at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com