Raymond L. Johnson

Funeral Services for Raymond L. Johnson will be conducted from the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend David Sites and Intern Nathan Metzger, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion Post #66 of Holdrege.

Raymond LeRoy "Bris" Johnson, 71 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2008 in Holdrege. Raymond was born December 15, 1936 at Holdrege, the youngest of five children of Lawrence F. and Hazel (Wall) Johnson. He received his education from Holdrege, graduating from Holdrege High School with the class of 1954. Following his education he engaged in farming with his father and brother. On February 29, 1956 he was inducted into the United States Navy, serving his country in two tours of duty to Antarctica aboard the Ice Breaker USS Glacier. In 1960 he was honorably discharged from the service and returned home to Holdrege. Raymond was then employed by the Funk Grain Elevator in Funk, Nebraska.

On January 15, 1961 he was united in marriage to Marlene Seeman and to this union three children were born: Melissa, Randall and Ross. The family made their home in Funk for seventeen years, where Raymond served as Mayor, member of the Fridhem Lutheran Church, was also a member of Funk Lions Club and the Funk Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1967, Raymond began his employment with Artistic Woven Labels and continued throughout the years as the company continued under the names of US Label and Paxar. Raymond had a total of thirty-seven years with the company including one year in Pittsboro, North Carolina and the remaining thirty-six years in Holdrege until the closing of company.

Following the family move to Holdrege, Raymond transferred membership to Bethel Lutheran Church, was a member of the NRA, and currently was serving as the Commander of the American Legion Post #66. Throughout the years, Raymond enjoyed giving presentations of Antarctica to the Holdrege Freshman Geography class from 1979 – 2005. He was proud to present the colors of our country at many events throughout the community, loved to hunt, fish, tend to his garden and enjoyed following Duster Football, Basketball, Track events and Legion Baseball games. Following retirement the highlight of each day was being Chauffer for his grandchildren and all their friends. He was truly a history buff, especially the WW II Era. He was very devoted to his family, he had a great sense of humor, and was a very patient man that loved attending his grandchildren's performances.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Marlene; one daughter, Melissa Boutwell and her husband, Karl; one son, Ross Johnson all of Holdrege; four grandchildren: Erik Boutwell of Phoenix, Arizona, Justin Boutwell and Avery and Addison Johnson all of Holdrege; one sister, Marguerite Skiles of Arvada, Colorado; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Seeman and his wife, Colene of Omaha, Nebraska and Larry Seeman of Tampa, Florida; sister-in-law, Karen Daffer and husband, Barry of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Randall Johnson in infancy in 1969; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Kermit and Dorothy Seeman and three brothers: Clarence Johnson and his wife, Evelyn, LaVerne Johnson and his wife, Josephine and Cloyd Johnson.

Raymond will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later time.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.