Ronald E. Johnson, 92

Ronald Einer Johnson was born Oct. 15, 1933, in North Chicago, Ill., and passed away surrounded by family Dec. 18, 2025, in Santa Maria, Calif. 

Ronald grew up in Greys Lake, Ill., and married his wife, Carole, in 1957. While enlisted in the United States Air Force, Ronald was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1961 and settled in Santa Maria, Calif. They bought a house and had three daughters. 

After the Air Force, Ronald joined the United States Navy and retired as a Master Chief in 1995. After retirement, he moved to Post Falls, Idaho, where he spent the last 30 years of his life. He was an active member of the American Legion and enjoyed making people laugh. He loved living in the beautiful state of Idaho.

In February 2025, he moved back to Santa Maria, Calif., to live with his youngest daughter. He was able to spend his remaining days with his daughters, grandkids and great-grandkids. 

He is survived in death by his three daughters, Donna DeThorne (Eagle, Idaho), husband Kenneth DeThorne and her three daughters Allison, husband Joe, Anastasia, and Shaye; Linda Jonson (Santa Maria, Calif.) and her daughter, Nicole Jaime, husband Lee Jaime; and Kristina Pita, (Santa Maria, Calif.), husband Robert Pita, and her two sons, Robert Jr., wife Alyssa, and Rey; great-grandchildren Marianna Kelly (Spokane, Wash.), Michael Blanton (Yakima, Wash.), Lucie, Abel, and Leni Ringgenberg (Caldwell, Idaho), Gavraelle Martinez and Issak Jaime (Santa Maria, Calif.) and Ryland and Rowan Pita (Santa Maria, Calif.).