Ralph W Johnson

Ralph William Johnson, age 76 of Beauford, died on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato as the result of a massive stroke.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 7, 2009 at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Mankato with Father Samuel Leonard, I.V.E. officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato. Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m., Sunday, December 6, 2009 at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Ralph was born August 23, 1933 in Mankato. He graduated from Mankato High School in 1951. He was in the Army from 1953 to 1955 serving in the Baffin Islands. He married Geraldine Mock on June 4, 1955 at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church. He worked for Kato Engineering for 30 years where he was a welding foreman. He then started his own Blacksmith and Welding shop at home in Beauford. He was a member of the Upper Midwest Blacksmith Association, The Guild of Metalsmiths, the Catholic Order of Forester, St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church. He also volunteered his talents at Farm America in Waseca and the annual Butterfield Threshing Bee. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, blacksmithing and going to threshing bees.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Geraldine (Geri), three sons and their wives; Dennis (JB) and Deb; Wayne and Daniela, all of Mankato and Alan and Amanda of Eagle Lake. Four granddaughters, Tiffany (JR Schulte), Hilary, Kelsie and Kayla; one great-grandson, Rylen Schulte; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Ollie and Regina (Jean) Sieberg, Marvin and Rosemary Mock all of Mankato and Richard and Carol Mock of Wood Dale, IL; sisters-in-law Sue (Richard) Loscheider of Shoreview and Marilyn (LeRoy) Slama of Winnebago and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, daughter-in-law Belinda and brothers-in-law Clarence Jr. (Sonny) and Gerald Mock.