Ruby E. Johnson Masten

PORTAGE  --  Ruby Elizabeth Johnson Masten, age 90, of Portage, passed away unexpectedly, on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at University Hospital in Madison, surrounded by her family.

Ruby was born on the family farm on August 9, 1923, the daughter of Christian and Agnes Johnson.  She learned to ride horses before she learned how to walk.  She always had a love of all animals.  Ruby attended a rural one room school house in Lewiston Township and went to high school at the Clough building in Portage.  While attending high school she assisted families in town for room and board. She was married to Clyde H. Masten, Sr., on July 25, 1942 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lewiston Township.  In their earlier years, Ruby and Clyde enjoyed Saturday night chicken with family and friends at the Wagon Wheel, built and owned by the Maier family and later owned by the Mastens.  Ruby and Clyde loved going up north to their cottage in Presque Isle with family and friends.  In later years, they enjoyed meeting new friends on casino trips, which Ruby did until her last moments.    

She is survived by her children, Clyde Masten Jr., Portage, and Candi (George) Maier, Portage;  Clyde’s children and grandchildren; Josie (Brett) Borgwardt and Taylor, Sheboygan, Clyde Masten III (Lindsey Haas) and Brooke, Portage, Fran Masten (Rod) and Daisha and Travis Richardson, Westfield, and Lukus Masten and Gabrielle and Morgan, Portage;  Candi’s children and grandchildren;  Katrina (Rob) Roth and MacKenzie, Portage, Amanda (Jose) Gonzalez and Emma, Elise, James Little and Honor Gonzalez, Portage, Sarah Maier, Portage, and Adam Maier, Portage;  her dear friends, Mabel Cadigan and Sue Hayes;  her cat, Princess, and other near relatives and many close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Christian and Agnes Johnson, her husband, Clyde Masten, Sr. in 2001, her brothers, William Johnson and Elmer (Lucille) Johnson, and her sisters, Laura (Ed) Riley and Annie (Lester) Reif.

Visitation will be on Sunday, November 24, 2013 from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.  For those wishing to attend, a short prayer service will be held during the visitation time at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Visitation will also be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 25, 2013 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lewiston Township with a funeral service held at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. William Grimm officiating, and burial to follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery.