Ronald Dean Johnson, “Ronnie” was born on July 17, 1952, along with his twin brother Donald, in Elgin, ND to Elmer and Dorothy (Daley) Johnson. He grew up on the ranch north of Keldron and attended the Knoke Country School for grades 1-8. He attended high school in Lemmon, SD and graduated in 1970. During his high school years, Ronnie participated in football and wrestling and was active in FFA, serving as its chapter president, and in the Lemmon Rodeo Club, where he qualified for the state finals in bull riding during his senior year. After high school he attended DSU from the fall of 1970 to spring of 1971 where he was a member of the rodeo club and competed in steer wrestling, bareback riding, and bull riding, his favorite event. He continued to compete in the sport of rodeo, which he loved, until 1976, when he ended his career in bull riding.
Ronnie married LaQuita Evans in September of 1978. To this union three sons were born, Bleaux, Tanner, and Jordan. He lived in Lemmon during their marriage where he worked for the South Dakota Stockgrowers and North Dakota Stockmans Association as a brand inspector while also working on the family farm and bartending.
He moved to the ranch permanently in 1987 so he could live out his true passion as a cattle rancher alongside his father. During this time he was an active member of the Cedar Grazing Association and the Boss Cowman Rodeo Board. Ronnie’s expert knowledge of cattle and his success in raising them started early in life. At age 16 he worked for the Sutton Ranch, and later hauled cattle for John Corcoran Trucking. He and his father worked side by side until Elmer’s health began to fail. Ronnie loved nothing better than to saddle up his horse, signal the dogs (always blue heelers) and go work the herd. He was exceptional at training blue heelers as cow dogs, often saying that all he needed was his horse and a heeler to get the job done that often took others many cowhands to accomplish. His patience with the animals and innate sense of how to get the best from them were the perfect accompaniment to his other talents as an outdoorsman and rancher.
Ronnie, along with his best friend in life, Verlyn Weishaar, was the epitome of a “true” old-time cowboy. He told stories about how he and Verlyn would saddle up the horses and ride across the prairie for hours. He considered that his heaven and where he was most at peace. When working cows, he was happiest camping under the stars just like the cattle drivers of old. Verlyn and he would often sit around the campfires making up cowboy poetry, songs, and discussing the legends of the old days. When Verlyn passed away, he dearly missed his old friend but found solace in taking the dogs and riding out into the pasture. That was his therapy. Anyone who knew Ronnie will miss seeing his battered old work hat, red Comfy coat, working chaps and definitely a scarf around his neck as his daily attire. Dressing up was to put on the Black hat, and the good jeans. A true cowboy through and through.
Ronnie was an avid hunter, and could spend hours outdoors sitting patiently on a hill side, spotting deer in anticipation for opening day. Every year he hosted pheasant hunters who came back time after time, not only for the fantastic hunting, but for the wonderful hospitality, and Ronnie’s famous macaroni salad.
The love pride and joy of Ronnie’s life were his three sons, Bleaux, Tanner, and Jordan. They meant everything to him and although he faced many trials and challenges in his life, his love for his sons remained constant, and was the focal point that gave him the strength to overcome and persevere. This love grew even greater the day he found out he was going to become a grandfather. On December 5, 2009, Tatem Walker Johnson came into this world although not in the usual way. But with the Johnson-Seamands toughness, that little guy beat the odds and has become a thriving, healthy, normal baby boy. He was the spirit and light in grandpa’s eyes.
Ronnie became a devout member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in 2007, and found that it brought peace, comfort, and understanding to his life. He attended church regularly and put into practice his true beliefs. He was always there to lend someone in need a helping hand, take food or clothing to those without, always anonymously, and lived his daily life according to the teachings of Christ as best he could.
Ronnie loved to laugh, share stories, play jokes, and in general find the joy in life. He is fondly remembered as a real prankster, but could always be the butt of a good joke as well. He really enjoyed playing jokes on his sons who took it all in the good nature in which it was given, but could give it back just as good as their father.
In 2009, Ronnie met the woman for whom he felt changed his life. The love, companionship, and true joining of their souls, gave him immeasurable joy and happiness. All who knew him saw that joy in his face and noted what a changed man he had become. Although he left this world to soon, he got to experience true love, and was a happy man at the time of his death.
He was a man of true honor and integrity and had a heart as big as Texas. His love was unending for those closest to him. He will be dearly missed by his sons, his family, his soul mate, and all his friends, near and far.
Survivors include his 3 sons and daughter in law: Bleaux Johnson, Hettinger ND; Tanner Johnson, Lemmon SD; Jordan (Kami) Johnson, Hettinger, ND, one grandson, Tatem Johnson, his fiancé, Peggy Gunther, Hettinger, ND; his mother, Dorothy Johnson, Morristown, SD; his twin brother, Donald (Nancy) Johnson, Horace, ND; his sister Myrna (Joe) Deans, Keldron SD; one niece, Tristy (Jason) Carrol; two nephews Trampas Deans and Justin Johnson and last but not least, his beloved and ever-faithful companion, his dog, Annie.
He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer Johnson.
