Ruth E. Johnson

Hastings resident, Ruth Elaine (Olson) Johnson, 85, passed away Saturday, 17 July 2011, at Perkins, Good Samaritan Village, Hastings, NE. A private celebration of Ruth and Ros lives will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Ruth was born, 31 May 1926, to Ed and Regena Olson, at their family farm in Norman, NE, and was baptized at Falun Swedish Lutheran Church. She and her four siblings attended a one-room country schoolhouse for eight years, two years at Norman High (until closing), and she graduated from Minden High in 1944. Ruth was office clerk at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Hastings, where she met her future husband, Navy Gunner Mate, Roland (Ro) W. Johnson. They were married 21 April 1946, in her family home and were members of First St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Later, Ruth was office manager for 25 years at Hastings Equity Grain Bin until they sold out. Johnson's then moved to Sedona, AZ, where Ro was in advertising with Red Rock News and Ruth trained as a CNA and was a private caregiver at Kachina Retirement, Health/Rehab Center for 19 years until she retired and they moved to be near family in TX. After a year and Ros failing health, they returned to Hastings, NE, and moved to Good Samaritan Village. Ro passed away in July 2008, and Ruth moved to Fairfield for a short time and returned to Good Samaritan Village until her passing. She is survived by brother, Howard (Mavis) Olson, Lincoln, NE; sister, Vera Plihal, Portland, OR; sister-in-law, Shirley Olson, Holdrege, NE; God-daughter Jill (Casey) Schmeeckle and family, Omaha, NE; special friends Dick, Charlotte and Jeremy Woodard, Hastings, NE, several cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and dear friends. Ruth was preceded in death by husband, Ro Johnson; parents, Ed and Regena Olson, Hastings, NE; brothers, Gerald, of Hastings and Allen of Funk, NE; brother-in-law, Ed Plihal of TX; niece, Diane Plihal Marsh of KS; and nephew, Bruce Olson of Funk, NE. Ruth was preceded in death by husband, Ro Johnson; parents, Ed and Regena Olson, Hastings, NE; brothers, Gerald, of Hastings and Allen of Funk, NE; brother-in-law, Ed Plihal of TX; niece, Diane Plihal Marsh of KS; and nephew, Bruce Olson of Funk, NE.