Ruth Marilyn Johnson

Ruth M. Johnson age 97 of Baldwin completed her journey on this earth and went to her heavenly home on December 5, 2025. Ruth lived her life following God’s commandment of “Love the Lord your God and your neighbors as yourself.” Love, faith, and service were the cornerstones of Ruth’s Life.

Ruth was born January 30, 1928 in Baldwin to Delmar and Gertrude Veenendall. She moved a number of times early in her life until the family settled on the family farm her father purchased northeast of Baldwin. Her parents instilled in Ruth a strong faith, work ethic, and sense of service. In the 4th grade, Ruth was so impressed with her teacher that she decided teaching was the vocation she wanted to pursue. She worked hard in her teenage years to earn money to pay for the bus rides to attend high school and for the tuition to attend the University of WI in River Falls.

After attending UW-RF, she became a rural teacher at Tydalen School, where she was responsible for teaching 8 different grades of students.

Ruth met Harold Johnson while working at the Martinson Café in Baldwin. They were married on March 16, 1951. She completed her second year of teaching and came home to the family farm. Ruth and Harold raised 8 children on the farm and instilled in them the values that they strongly held. Ruth worked side by side with Harold helping to grow the family farm which is now being farmed by the 4th and 5th generation of Johnson’s. Ruth and Harold celebrated 72 years of marriage.

She was active in Gethsemane Lutheran Church by teaching Sunday School, participating in Bible Study Circle, sewing mission quilts and serving at funerals. Ruth was the General Leader and project leader of Pine Lakers 4-H Club. She helped many 4-H members develop life skills. She was involved in Happy Valley Homemakers. For 15 years, she worked as an evening cook at the Baldwin Nursing Home. Her purpose and joy when cooking was to make the resident’s life better by making them special meals and snacks.

God blessed Ruth with many talents. She was an excellent cook; the family enjoyed the fantastic meals she prepared for holidays. Her flower and vegetable gardens were beautiful and bountiful. She painted ceramics, did embroidery of dish towels, created quilts, cross-stitched pictures, sewed clothing and in the last years did coloring. She shared all her creations with her family as gifts for baby and bridal showers, wedding and birthday gifts.

Ruth will be forever remembered by her family for all of the love she had for each of us. She made sure we all developed a Christian Faith. Ruth supported each of her children in their varying interests as they were growing up. We are grateful for all the time she spent driving us to church activities, sports practices and games, attending concerts, and 4-H activities.

Ruth is survived by her children Nancy, Diane, Steve (Terri), Dave (Joann), Greg (Doreen), Jim (Gwen), Bob (Nancy), and Brian (Sue); grandchildren Scott, Kari, James, Mike, Angela, Teresa, Tim, Crissie, Nick, Krystal, Kendra, Danny, Erica, Mitch, Stacy, Nicole, Vicki, Melissa, Derek, Travis, Brett, Amber, Matt, Brad, Jessica, Pat, and Brookelyn; 40 great-grandchildren; and her sister Millie (Alan) Krause.

Preceded in death by her husband Harold; brothers Vernon and Wayne; sisters-in-law Ruthie and Mabel; and son-in-law Loren.

Funeral Service 11 AM Monday, December 15th at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Baldwin. Visitation one hour prior to service at the church. Interment Baldwin Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Baldwin Care Center and Adoray Hospice for the wonderful love and care they gave to our mother. Special thanks to Joan Lindquist for all of the time she spent doing our mother’s hairdos. Mom always looked forward to that!

Memorials are appreciated to Gethsemane Lutheran Church or Adoray Hospice.

Arrangements entrusted to O’Connell Funeral Home, Baldwin