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Ralph Emerson Johnson |
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March 23, 1921 ~ November 19, 2017 |
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November 23, 2017 |
Ralph Emerson Johnson, 96, passed quietly into
his savior's arms on Sunday, November 19, 2017.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m.
Saturday, November 25, at The Crossing, E715
Travois Way, Moscow.
The second of six children, Ralph was born March
23, 1921, on the family farm outside of Camp
Point, Illinois, to Russell and Hazel Maude (Kestner)
Johnson.
Ralph only completed eighth grade - it was
during the Depression, his father had left home
and Ralph needed to get a job to help support
the family. He moved from Illinois to be with
his brother Roy in Washington, finding work at
White Pine Mill in Kettle Falls.
It was there that he met his first wife,
Margaret (Reed), who was working as a cook at
the mill. They were married in September of
1940.
Between 1942 and 1946 they had three children;
Wilma, Ken and Ron.
Ralph was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944. He
deployed to the Pacific and served in the
Philippines, then after the war in the
occupation forces in Japan.
In 1946, Ralph was discharged from the military
and returned home to his family in Kettle Falls,
where he found work in logging and at Avey
Brothers Mill.
Three more children; Bonita, Joleen and Lanie,
were born during this period. In May of 1955,
the family moved to Spokane, where Ralph
operated a service station. After a few years he
gave up the service station and found jobs
outside of Spokane operating heavy equipment,
building roads and installing power lines.
His search for reliable work brought him to
Colorado, but the separation from family
ultimately caused a divorce from Margaret.
He found more construction work and sold tires
in Grand Junction, Colorado. He also met Norma
Sheets, a widow, and her children, Gordon,
Donald and Sandy. Ralph and Norma were married
April 5, 1964; they had one child together, Tom.
A combination of job-hunting and family health
issues landed Ralph's new family in Lewiston,
where he worked for Massey Ferguson and
Washington State University. Ralph was valued
for his ability to fix anything.
After his retirement, Ralph and Norma moved up
to Moscow in 1999, near the families of Gordon,
Donald, Sandy and Tom.
A man who could easily talk with anyone, Ralph
made many friends through his involvement with
Kiwanis.
In 2013, Ralph and Norma agreed to move in with
Steve and Sandy to be near family in their
golden years. As Ralph's health declined over
the past year, he was welcomed into Precious
Elders care home in Pullman.
Ralph is survived by Norma, his wife of 53
years, their son Tom, of Moscow, stepdaughter
Sandy (Steve) Otto, Moscow, stepson Gordon Ray
Sheets, Pahrump, Nevada, six children from his
first marriage, Wilma (Larry) DeVore, Bonners
Ferry, Ken (Becky), Spokane, Ron (Debbie), Otis
Orchards, Washington, Bonita (Keith) Hammer,
Boise, Joleen (Bill), Boise, and Lanie (Randy)
Ralph, Bonners Ferry, and numerous grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
He also is survived by sisters Norma Warrick,
Quincy, Illinois, and Nadine Garlinger,
Nashville, Michigan, and many nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded in death by stepson Donald and
brothers Roy, Gus and Rollie.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's
Funeral Chapel, Moscow, and condolences may be
left at
www.shortsfuneralchapel.com. |
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