Raymond Johnson

Raymond L. Johnson, 75, Lake Park, MN, died Thursday, April 21 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fargo, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 PM Tuesday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Lake Park, MN, Fr. Robert LaPlante, officiating. Interment will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Detroit Lakes with Military Rites provided by the Lake Region Veterans Honor Guard. Friends may call 4:00 - 8:00 PM Monday with a parish vigil at 7:00 PM and Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:30 PM at St. Francis Xavier Church in Lake Park. The visitation will continue 1 hour prior to the mass at the church on Tuesday. Raymond LeRoy Johnson was born November 10, 1935 in Lake Park, Minnesota to William and Ellen (Horan) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and attended Lake Park Public Schools. He served with the Army National Guard and then enlisted in the U. S. Air Force, serving 1954 A�A�A½ 1957. Ray was united in marriage to Margaret Willette April 14, 1956 in Washington D. C. They made their home in Detroit Lakes where Ray was a police officer with the Detroit Lakes Police Department 1958 A�A�A½ 1966. During that time he also worked as a funeral attendant with the Donehower Funeral Home. In 1966 they moved to Fargo, ND where Ray served with the Fargo Police Department retiring in 1988 with a rank of Detective Sergeant. They made their home on Bijou Lake in rural Lake Park and Ray then worked for the David-Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes 1995 A�A�A½ 2011. For the past 10 years, Ray and Margaret spent their winters in Mission. Texas. Ray was a member of the V.F.W. American Legion, Lake Region Veterans Honor Guard, Cormorant Sportsman's Club and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed time with his grandchildren, playing music as a DJ, hunting, fishing and serving with the veterans honor guard. He will long be remembered for playing with several Fargo area bands and for coordinating the music for numerous benefits in Fargo, the lakes area and in Texas. Ray is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret of Lake Park; four sons: Daniel (Joseph Blair) of Fargo, ND, Steven (Kim) of Wadena, MN, Keith (Jane) of Moorhead, MN, Brian (Shawn Malmo) of Chanhassen, MN; 4 grandchildren: Heidi Johnson, Molly Johnson, Brooke Umland, Jacob Johnson and three step grandchildren; Brittany Umland, Joshua Suckow, Alison (Jared) Haecherl; a brother: Jim (Marlys) of Mahnomen, MN and a sister-in-law: Yvonne Johnson of Moorhead. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, John William Johnson.

Memorials are preferred to Hospice of The Red River Valley.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Monday, April 25, 2011
Service
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
cemetery
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

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