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Johnson-Ruhn, 85, passed away Saturday, April 6th 2013 at Parkside Nursing Home, Lisbon, ND. Elaine was born May 9th, 1927 to Hans and Edith (Johnson) Wohler in the rural Milnor area. She attended country school and then Milnor High School.
On July 24th 1943, she was married to Lloyd A. Johnson at Webster, SD. They made their home in rural Milnor. They were blessed with 7 children before moving to a farm site in rural Gwinner in 1954, where they had 3 more children; Larry (Sally) Johnson, Milnor; Donna; Duane (Betty) Johnson, Gwinner; Carolyn (Richard) Jacobson, Lisbon; Kay (Larry) Swanson, Gwinner; Kent (Julie) Johnson, Gwinner; Charlene (Bill) Smith, Forman; Miles (Lannae) Johnson, Gwinner; Allan; and Dale (Joanne) Johnson, Roseville, MN.
Elaine was a wonderful cook and loving mother. It seems Elaine spent most of her time working with food in some aspect. She grew it in her garden, and then canned it or froze it for the freezer. She then prepared it for her family, which was no small feat. She even worked as a waitress, serving food to others at the Crossroads Supper Club for a number of years. She liked to bake and quite often sewed clothes for her children. In her free time, she enjoyed pitching horseshoe, bowling or playing cards.
Lloyd passed away October 15, 1993. She continued to live on the farm until 1999, when she moved to Gwinner. In June 1999, she married Dale Ruhn at Webster, SD. They made their home together until 2007, when Elaine entered Parkside Nursing Home, Lisbon. Dale passed away March 6th, 2007.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; a daughter Donna; a son Allan; one grandchild LeeAnn; two great-grandchildren Samantha and Buddy; one sister; and two brothers-in-law.
Elaine is survived by her remaining 8 children; 34 grandchildren; 61 great- grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Lowell (Rhoda) Wohler, Senora, CA; Mervin (Karen) Wohler, Milnor; one sister, Geraldine Nogowski, Milnor; one sister-in-law, Jeannette Beckstrom, Gwinner; and numerous nieces and nephews. Elaine’s family was her life. For those of us lucky enough to be in her family, we are proud to say she was our Sister, Aunt, Great-Grandma, Great-Great-Grandma and Mother.
Funeral service for Elaine will be Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 10:30 am at the Gustaf Adolf Lutheran Church, Gwinner. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 6:00 pm with a prayer service following at 7:00 pm, also held at Gustaf Adolf Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Milnor. An online guestbook may be signed at www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com