John was born Aug. 16, 1942, in Littlefork, Minn.
He died March 29, 2018, after a long illness.
He was a longtime resident of Long Beach, Calif.
John served in the Army in Vietnam and he worked for the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station.
He was honored for a total of 29 years with the government.
He graduated from Falls High School in 1960 and he lettered in track.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty Ratelle Abley and John Abley; and his sister, Debra.
He is survived by sister, Cheryl Rivera (Refugio); niece, Candy Rivera Wehenkel (Allan) of Dallas, Texas, and great-nephews, Brandon and Aaran; niece, Elizabeth Rivera Luken (Ross) of Maple Plain, Minn., and great-niece, Ana Marie; and niece, Christina Rivera Thorsen (Emil) of Stockholm, Sweden, and great-nephews, Julian Rivera, Eskil and Storm Rivera Thorsen.
In honor of John , his niece Candy had a tree planted in the National Forest through Arbor Day Foundation.
Burial will be at a later date.
