January 31, 1923 – January 20, 2023
Marion Johnson, RD, passed away peacefully in the morning on Jan. 20, 2023.
She was born on Jan. 31, 1923, in Mabton, Washington, to Henry and Myrtle Ruby.
Henry trained horses and managed a unit in the Army Horse Calvary and Myrtle taught school in Yakima until her move to Mabton.
Marion was very close with her brother, Robert, born in 1921.
At the age of 2 their mother died, leaving them to be lovingly raised by their father on their farm in Mabton.
She attended schools in Mabton for her early education where she was active in musicals, drama and sports.
As a young girl, she raised turkeys for college money.
Robert and she were instrumental in forming a youth group in the Mabton Presbyterian Church.
Marion remembered a joyful childhood where she and Robert would play “circus.” He was the ringmaster, and she rode bareback, standing on her horse.
They would often ride their horses to school. She loved to ride her horse, Gray, in the Washington countryside and enjoyed hunting for the family meals.
Marion graduated from Mabton High School in 1941 where she was a top academic performer in her class.
She went on to attend Whitworth College in Spokane for two years then transferred to Washington State University in Pullman where she graduated with a degree in Institutional Economics in 1944.
She served an internship at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, returning west in 1945.
Marion accepted the position of Director of Dining Halls at Idaho State University in Pocatello where she met LeRoy (Bus) Johnson, whom she married in 1947.
Then in 1949 they moved into Bus’s parents’ home, which they eventually made into their permanent home on Payette Lake in McCall.
Marion and LeRoy purchased his brother’s service station in downtown McCall.
The McCall Congregational Church was another very important part of Marion’s life.
She was active in the early church, serving on the board as superintendent of Sunday school and singing in the choir.
She was the staff dietitian for McCall Memorial Hospital, now St. Luke’s McCall Hospital, and on the hospital board for 23 years.
She also traveled to the other central Idaho hospitals including Council and Cascade where she served as staff dietitian for several years.
Marion was a founding officer and past president of the Idaho Dietitian Association.
She was active in the Mc-Call community and spent many hours volunteering her time for different events including Eastern Star in which she was Matron and life member and a leader in the Payette Lakes Progressive Club.
She built several amazing snow sculptures during the Winter Carnival and served on the McCall City Council.
Marion’s love for horseback riding began at the age of 2 on their family farm. She especially enjoyed horses and dogs.
In McCall, she was fond of riding her Arabian mare, Lady,withhersonShawnand his quarter horse throughout the Idaho backcountry.
They attended the Valley County Fair for many years showing their horses.
She had many dogs but especially loved Tonka, a black Labrador retriever. They could be seen on Brundage Mountain or walking around town getting the ever-important exercise.
Marion had the opportunity to travel through several countries with Robert. She enjoyed plays and operas in New York City, London and Paris.
Her travels included South America where she spent eight days going up the Amazon River to the Andes Mountains.
She also traveled to England, France, Italy and Switzerland.
She was in Germany in November 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down. While there, she went through Checkpoint Charlie’s into East Berlin where Wagner’s Lohengrin music was playing.
Marion traveled to the Philippines where she was invited into Imelda Marcos’s palace, enjoying a gourmet meal as well as traveling to Peking (now Beijing) China after its first opening by President Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
As a registered dietitian, she was allowed into kitchens learning their cooking techniques, also participating in Tai Chi with the local people.
She was fortunate to see daily life in the Soviet Union during her trip to Moscow, Russia.
She very much enjoyed traveling with her husband throughout the United States
See MARION, Page B5 visiting friends and family and was actively involved in taking her sons to ski races throughout the northwest.
As a professional, Marion was very comfortable in a boardroom meeting with senior executives or doctors but just as comfortable in a sheepherder’s tent cooking hearty, nutritious meals on a camp stove.
She found immense pleasure in fishing or gold mining in the Idaho backcountry.
For Marion, the game of Bridge was serious but meant to be enjoyed, making some great friendships along the way.
Beachfront barbeques surrounded by family was a favorite of hers.
She would often organize scrumptious, extended family meals for up to 50 folks consisting of local, natural delicacies including huckleberries, freshly caught fish, elk and morel mushrooms.
Marion brought cere-mony to the events she led or participated in. She was a great cook, and her lively personality brought people to her table.
She brought out dishes sequentially and led engaging conversations throughout these meals.
With all of her many experiences, she was also a great listener. In the words of her niece, her coffee table chats became wonderful therapy sessions.
Marion and Bus raised three boys; Craig (Jan), Brent, Shawn (Kathryn) and dearly loved her five grandchildren; Chase (Angie), Portland, Oregon; Toby, San Gwann, Malta; Olivia, Noah and Isabel, Georgetown, Texas; and her great-grandchildren, Mateo and Diego, Chase and Angie’s children.
Marion is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy (Bus) and her brother, Dr. Robert H. Ruby, Moses Lake, Washington.
Marion was the foundation of her family and inspired them with her love and positive, unlimited support.
We mourn with the passing of Marion and yet rejoice in her strong testimony in Christ. She is with God and all the Saints.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Marion’s memory to the Snowden Wildlife Sanctuary in McCall.
Her graveside service is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, January 31, at 3 p.m. at the Mabton Washington Cemetery.
