Ruth Lois Johnson

Longtime Upland resident, Ruth L. Johnson, 90, passed away, July 16, at the Bethany Home, in Minden. Memorial services will be held July 19, at 11:00, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Hildreth. Burial services will be at 9:30, at the Upland cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Johnson family to be designated at a later date. Ruth Lois Wittfoth was born March 20, 1927, at Wilcox, Ne. She was the first child of Fred and Rixte “Sally” (Hemmen) Wittfoth. She was baptized by Reverend Senkeisen, on May 10, 1927, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, near Hildreth. On June 13, 1943, Ruth was confirmed, by Reverend A.G. Trost, at the Saint Paul Lutheran Church, in Hildreth. Her confirmation verse was Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Ruth attended country schools in Franklin County and graduated from Hildreth High School, in 1945. She then went to Kearney State Teacher’s College and earned her teaching certificate and began teaching. She taught country school for two years. On February 7, 1947, she married Lee C. Johnson, of Upland. They were married at the Lutheran Parishment, in Smith Center, Kansas, by Pastor Johannes LeMann. They were blessed with five children: Stephen, Suzanne, Sandra, Sheila, and Stanley. Ruth was a caring wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an avid gardener and loved sharing her produce with family and friends. She raised chickens for many years and with the help of family, she made a business of her poultry endeavor, raising 400-500 chickens a year and then butchering and selling them. She also enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and friends. It wasn’t uncommon for her to have fresh bread, cookies, rusks, and pies ready for the tasting. Raisin cream pie was a favorite of many and when she brought one to bazaars, it was one of the first to go! One year, she made a raisin cream pie for the Big Fat Fall Festival for the church auction and it brought $200. Kind of a “rich” one! Ruth enjoyed her family and friends. It was nothing out of the ordinary for her to just stop what she was doing and listen to whoever was on the phone or to whomever just happened to “drop by”. There was always a coffee pot on and something good to eat. Nobody went away hungry! She welcomed her grandkids and great-grandkids with the same enthusiasm and they all wanted to see her too. Ruth was active in her communities. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Campbell, for many years. She and Lee transferred there when Zion Lutheran of Upland closed, in 1990. She also was a 68-year member of the Upland Legion Auxiliary Post 284, VFW Auxiliary of Hildreth, Country Cousins Extension Club, Hildreth Lioness Organization and numerous bridge and pitch card groups. She and Lee also loved to dance and they were active in several dance groups in the Holdrege and Kearney Senior Centers. They also enjoyed travelling the United States and even ventured to France to visit their summer exchange student, Theirry and his family. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Stephen and Melanie Johnson of Upland, Suzanne and Steven Fries of Upland, Sandra and Jerry Lieberth of Holdrege, Sheila Knott and her friend Pat Shemek of Lincoln, and Stanley Johnson of Hildreth; 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; her sister Lenora Kumke of Campbell, brother and sisters-in law Gary and Betty Jo Johnson of Minden and Euella Johnson of Upland, and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceeded in death by her husband Lee C. Johnson, her parents Fred and Sally Wittfoth, brother William Wittfoth, parents in-law Fred and Esther Johnson, brothers-in-law Duane Kumke, Delmar Jacobsen, John Johnson, Floyd Johnson and sisters in–law Norma Jacobsen, and Naomi Johnson.

Ruth Lois Johnson

March 20, 1927 - July 16, 2017