Raymond K. Johnson, 79, of Uehling, died Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha following complications after bypass surgery.

Funeral services will be 11a.m. Friday, Nov 2, at the Uehling Auditorium with military honors provided by the Uehling American legion Post No. 196. Visitation will be at Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont Thursday from 3 to 8p.m., with family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

Raymond K. Johnson was born to Kenneth and Florence (Peterson) Johnson in Uehling Feb. 19, 1928. He lived in Uehling his entire life. He was baptized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church at rural Swaburg. He attended school in Uehling and on year at Midland College.

Mr. Johnson began work for Monnich Implement as a parts man in 1946. He purchased the business from Henry Monnich in 1959. Stanley Popken joined him as a partner in 1960. They purchased Lyons Implement in 1965 and remained in business as an International Harvester dealer until retirement in 1986. After retiring, he went to work for Dillon Chevrolet in Fremont for 10 years.

Mr. Johnson was drafted into the Army in 1950 during the Korean Was and served in the 45th infantry, 180th Heavy Mortar Division. He served overseas in Japn and Korea from October 1950 to September 1952.

He married Marilyn Popken on January 17, 1954, and they were members of St, Paul’s Lutheran Church in Uehling.

Mr. Johnson pitched fast-pitch softball for Hillside Dairy for 29 years; was a member of the Uehling Lions Club for 36 years; was a fireman for 33 years and served on the committee to form the first Uehling Fire District. He was on the first committee to formulate the Uehling Park and later the first park lights. One of his proudest achievements was serving on the Uehling School Board in 1968 for the consolidation of the Uehling, Hooper and Nickerson schools into Logan View School District No. 94. Her served as president of the Dodge County Improvement Association, on the board of the Uehling State Bank, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church council, 40 and 8 Legion, Uehling, American Legion Post No. 196, Uehling Sons of the Legion, the Hooper Medical clinic Board, the Dodge County Hospital Board, the Building Committee for the Uehling Low Income Housing, chairman of the Uehling Park and Auditorium Fund and chairman of the Uehling Auditorium Restoration Committee.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Christina Johnson of Mountain View, Calif., his daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Rick Keegan of Highlands Ranch Colo., four grandchildren; a sister, Lois Engdahl of Fremont and a brother, Norman Johnson of Craig.

Memorials are suggested to the Uehling Park and Auditorium Fund, c/o First National Bank Northeast, Uehling, Nebraska.