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He appreciated a good game, good company, and the simple pleasure of being surrounded by familiar faces.

Ronald Blake “Butch” Johnson, 86, of Baxter, passed away Friday, September 11, 2026, at Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, just one day shy of his 87th birthday.

Butch was born September 12, 1939, in Brainerd, Minnesota, the son of Ronald H. and Della (Bourassa) Johnson. He grew up in Brainerd and graduated from Washington High School in 1958. Butch also served his country as a member of the Army Reserve and National Guard.

He spent 33 years working at SuperValu and another 13½ years with the Brainerd School District before retiring in 2002. After more than four decades of working, retirement offered Butch a little more time for the things he enjoyed most.

Butch married Patsy D. Bell in 1959. The couple later divorced. In 1964, he married Andrea M. “Ann” Holmquist, and together they shared 62 years of marriage.

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Whether there were cards to be dealt, a bingo number to be called, or somewhere new to see, Butch was happy to take part.

Butch enjoyed traveling, playing cards and bingo, and spending time as a member of the Moose and Eagles Club. He appreciated a good game, good company, and the simple pleasure of being surrounded by familiar faces. Whether there were cards to be dealt, a bingo number to be called, or somewhere new to see, Butch was happy to take part.

More than anything, Butch’s life was filled with family. He will be dearly missed by his wife, Ann; children, Jeff (Karen) Johnson, Denise Branch (Joe Strand), Tony Johnson (Michelle Fentress), Terry Johnson (Nancy Salzl), and Shannon (Mark) Ziegler; grandchildren, Melissa Janssen, Danielle (Andrew) Lewis, Brittni (Andrea Hendrix) Tocsam, Blake (Adrianna) Branch, Nathan (Sarah Johnson) Smith, Joshua Smith, Erica (Erick) Peters, Megan (Jon) Edin-Walters, Tyler Edin, Madison (Sebastien Warzecha, Jr.) Troska, Kyrsten Salzl, Kloey Sand, Kamryn Bakeberg, and Alex (Haven) Ziegler; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Lynn (Gary) Getty; sisters-in-law, Mary (LeRoy) Dudgeon and Christine Holmquist; brother-in-law, Andy E. (Myrna) Holmquist; and several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Della Johnson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Anders and Leona Holmquist; first wife, Patsy Balko; daughter-in-law, Laurie Johnson; son-in-law, Bradley D. Branch; brother-in-law, John Holmquist; sister-in-law, Eiko Holmquist; and great-grandson, Santiago Branch.

Please join the family in honoring Butch’s Life with a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 21, 2026, at Nelson – Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to services. Interment will take place at Motley Public Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Francis Church, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, or an organization of your choice.