Ray Allyn Johnson

Ray Allyn Johnson, 72, of Minnesota City, died Saturday, August 20 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse after a short illness with AML Leukemia. Ray was born on January 30, 1939 at the Winona Hospital to Art and Dorothy (Scheidegger) Johnson. After graduating from Houston High School in 1956, he attended the University of Minnesota and Winona State. Farming was his true calling; he farmed with his dad and brother, Reid in Money Creek until 1960, when he and his dad moved to Minnesota City. In 1961, he married Ila Brekke, his wife of 50 happy years. Ray was active in the Brown Swiss Cattle Association. He and Reid raised some award winning cattle during these farming years. He was also involved with raising hogs. In 1998, all of their livestock was sold. Ray and Reid, for many years, held a competitive game of horseshoes at many local festivals. Ray also loved to play cards, especially 500 and enjoyed the friendships made. In his semi-retirement years, Ray took pride in supplying many people with lots of delicious sweet corn and vegetables from his "hobby" garden. Ray loved most sports and was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers since he was a young boy, and was also a fan of the Minnesota Twins. He enjoyed spending his leisure time with his six grandchildren and creating special memories with them. He was respected and known for his friendly and kind ways to all he met, as well as his strength, practical sense and conserving ways.We will miss him greatly.He is survived by his wife, Ila; two daughters, Karla (Brett) Koplin of Rochester, Victoria Johnson of Washington D.C.; son, Eric (Kristy) Johnson of Minnesota City; six grandchildren, John, Eva and Siri Koplin and Morgan, Reis and Caden Johnson; brother, Reid (Arlas) Johnson of Minnesota City; sister, Judy (Ralph) Osborne of Sparta, WI; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents.Funeral Service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 24 at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service - Hansen Goodview Chapel with the Reverend David McBride from Central United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-6:30 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.Please share a memory of Ray in his online guestbook and view his video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/241525