Ruth Ann (Gravdahl) Johnson

Ruth Ann Johnson, aged 84, was born March 5th, 1941, in Brainerd, MN, to Oscar and Amanda Gravdahl. She entered Heaven on Sunday, July 20, 2025 after hospitalization at Sanford Hospital, Bemidji.

Ruth lived in and attended school in Pequot Lakes. She grew up as one of six sisters with one brother who passed on in childhood. In 1961, she married Harland Lillquist, and they eventually moved to the homestead in Guthrie MN, with their two children, Renee and Stephen. Ruth enjoyed gardening, farming, homemaking, volunteering and being a part of the Guthrie Community. When her children entered junior and senior high, she found fulfillment working as a paraprofessional for special education students at Bemidji High School.

Ruth had a strong faith in God and was a longtime active member of Malvik Lutheran Church in Guthrie. She taught Sunday School for many years and enjoyed participating in Ladies Aid, quilting, bazaars and the church choir.

After Harland’s untimely passing when Ruth was just 45 years old, she met and married Ardell Johnson and moved to his lake home on Long Lost Lake.  It was there that she relished the quiet lake life and developed many cherished friendships. In later years, the couple moved back to the farm in Guthrie followed by Ruth transitioning to assisted living due to her advancing Parkinson’s Disease.

Ruth enjoyed traveling in her mid-life.  She and Ardell visited Australia and New Zealand; Ruth also travelled to Madagascar as part of a church mission trip. Her favorite place on earth, however, was Norway, where she was fortunate to visit multiple times.

Ruth had a quiet, pleasant disposition. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends and watching her grandchildren grow. She was always up for a good game of cards or a board game and enjoyed classical music, reading and the peaceful moments in life.

Those she leaves behind are children Renee (Bobby) Lukkason and Steve (Janet) Lillquist, husband Ardell and stepdaughters Katie (Dave) Kincs, and Becky (Tom) Brown, and grandchildren Ryan and Mackenzie Piprude, Marissa Lillquist, Beau (Tera) Brown, Iann Brown, all of Bemidji area and Terra Kincs of Shakopee, sisters Jean Smith of Brainerd, Glenda Schmidt of Pequot Lakes, and Marie Engle of Chandler, AZ as well as many nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Harland, sisters Arla Bollig and Joan Yalch, brother Glen as well as sisters and brothers-in-laws and three nephews.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Malvik Lutheran Church, Laporte, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Guthrie Cemetery.

Her children would like to thank the many skilled nurses, case managers and hospital staff of Sanford Hospital Bemidji that provided such exceptional comfort care to our beloved mother.

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