Obituaries

Ruth S. Johnson

RIO  /  PORTAGE  --  Ruth S. Johnson, age 88, of Rio, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, April 11, 2010, at the Remington House in Pardeeville.

Ruth was born on December 18, 1921, in Holmestrand, Norway, the daughter of Ray and Thora (Sorli) Pedersen.  Ruth grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois for two years.  She was married on September 12, 1942, to Ross Johnson.  While raising four children, she finished her college degree at Elmhurst College, and became a teacher in Illinois.  When moving to the Rio area, she also taught two years at St. Mary’s School in Portage and became a Title One teacher for Portage Public Schools for many years.  Ruth was a Sunday School Superintendent for Grace Bible Church for over 20 years.  She enjoyed her family and friends, flower gardening, reading, traveling and teaching.

She is survived by her four children, Pam Stowell, Pardeeville, Peggy Atkinson, Winfield, Illinois, Claudia (Ralph) Ciolkosz, Portage, and Brad (Susan) Johnson, East Wenatchee, Washington;  twelve grandchildren, Lisa (Kevin) Hamm, Pardeeville, Trina (Mark) Steinke, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Kelly Malamisuro, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Scott (Randi) Miles, Belgium, Wisconsin, Matthew Atkinson, Rogers Park, Illinois, Jacob (Leslie) Ciolkosz, Portage, Jenny (Kyle) Lubinski, New London, Wisconsin, Beth (Keith) Stewart, Bothell, Washington, Robyn Atkinson, Round Lake Beach, Illinois, Joshua (Kim) Ciolkosz, Indonesia, Todd (Amanda) Stowell, Madison, and Jesse Ciolkosz, Portage;  16 great-grandchildren, Brittany, Jessa, and Taylor Hamm, Kyle, Drew, and Kara Steinke, Caleb and Keegan Miles, Glavin, Hudson, and Taelyn Lubinski, Harper Stowell, Micah and Luke Malamisuro, Callie Ciolkosz, and Paige Stewart;  step-grandchildren, Dave (Carol) Stowell, Portage;  step-great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Katie Stowell;  other near relatives and many close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Finn John Pederson, her sister, Lillian Schultz, and her husband, Ross on March 18, 2010.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2010, at Grace Bible Church, 2939 County Highway CX, Portage, (across from Walmart), with Pastor Steven Corbett officiating.  Inurnment will be private.  Visitation will be from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday at Grace Bible Church in Portage.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.  www.pmmfh.com

 

 

 

Obituaries
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