Ruth Gustafson went home to be with the Lord, slipping out from a restful sleep May 18, 2011, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D. while in the presence of her family.
Born Juliana Ruth Skarp, Dec. 25, 1920, to David and Olga (Spjut) Skarp, on a farm west of Karlstad, Minn., she graduated from Karlstad High School as valedictorian of the class of 1938.
Following post-high school education from the Agricultural School in Crookston, Minn., with a degree in business (where she also got all A's), she took a position with the bank in Hallock.
While attending the Hallock Mission Covenant Church she met Sander. The couple married Oct. 16, 1944. They farmed west of Hallock where they raised their family. In addition to being a homemaker and being active in the Two River Township Homemaker's Club, and an advisor for her children's 4-H club, she worked for a time as a cook at Hallock High School, later in the front office of a local physician, and subsequently became a Certified Records Technician at the hospital in Hallock. She served on the board of directors of Kittson Memorial Hospital.
Always involved in music Ruth was the church organist at the Hallock Mission Covenant Church, where she and Sander have been activemembers, and in later years at the Kennedy Covenant Church. She played piano for the Golden Age Singers, which performed regularly at the Hallock Nursing Home, as well as playing for special events including the Kittson County Crusade for Christ, for weddings and funerals, as well as singing and playing duets with Sander, and anywhere and any time she was asked. Along with Sander, she was active in the Gideons and the Swedish Heritage Society.
A woman of grace and dignity, she was also fun loving and had a great sense of humor. Right to the end of her earthly life she made statements while in the hospital that demonstrated her wit. Inspite of pain related to arthritis she was never one to complain. Her cheerful disposition brightened the day of all with whom she came in contact.
She was preceded in death by her father, mother, two step-mothers, and her sister Audrey.
She is survived by her husband Sander, children: David (Marina) Gustafson, Hemet, Calif.; Cedric (Cheri) Gustafson, Hallock, Minn.; and Marie (Mark) Levang, Fergus Falls, Minn.; daughter-in-law Enid Gustafson, Santa Clarita, Calif.; Grandchildren Julianna Velthoen, Alison Gruber, Elizabeth Gustafson, Amanda Gustafson, Eric Gustafson, Dane Gustafson, Renae Levang, Brian Levang, and Jessica Levang; and Great Grandchildren Margo Velthoen, Cameron Velthoen, Carsten Long, Solveig Levang, Noelle Levang, and Dahlia Levang; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth will be missed and fondly remembered by her family, and many friends for her life demonstrating patience, love and compassion.
Funeral services were Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church in Kennedy, Minn. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock. Rev. Steve Grosz, presided, Sarah Bushaw, soloist; Shannon Christenson, organist, Lyndon Johnson, soloist and Laurel Johnson, accompanist.
Pall bearers were Greg Sandahl, Dwight Nelson, Jeff Michaelis, Arnell Cummins, Matthew Cummins and Brian Levang.
Austin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Born Juliana Ruth Skarp, Dec. 25, 1920, to David and Olga (Spjut) Skarp, on a farm west of Karlstad, Minn., she graduated from Karlstad High School as valedictorian of the class of 1938.
Following post-high school education from the Agricultural School in Crookston, Minn., with a degree in business (where she also got all A's), she took a position with the bank in Hallock.
While attending the Hallock Mission Covenant Church she met Sander. The couple married Oct. 16, 1944. They farmed west of Hallock where they raised their family. In addition to being a homemaker and being active in the Two River Township Homemaker's Club, and an advisor for her children's 4-H club, she worked for a time as a cook at Hallock High School, later in the front office of a local physician, and subsequently became a Certified Records Technician at the hospital in Hallock. She served on the board of directors of Kittson Memorial Hospital.
Always involved in music Ruth was the church organist at the Hallock Mission Covenant Church, where she and Sander have been activemembers, and in later years at the Kennedy Covenant Church. She played piano for the Golden Age Singers, which performed regularly at the Hallock Nursing Home, as well as playing for special events including the Kittson County Crusade for Christ, for weddings and funerals, as well as singing and playing duets with Sander, and anywhere and any time she was asked. Along with Sander, she was active in the Gideons and the Swedish Heritage Society.
A woman of grace and dignity, she was also fun loving and had a great sense of humor. Right to the end of her earthly life she made statements while in the hospital that demonstrated her wit. Inspite of pain related to arthritis she was never one to complain. Her cheerful disposition brightened the day of all with whom she came in contact.
She was preceded in death by her father, mother, two step-mothers, and her sister Audrey.
She is survived by her husband Sander, children: David (Marina) Gustafson, Hemet, Calif.; Cedric (Cheri) Gustafson, Hallock, Minn.; and Marie (Mark) Levang, Fergus Falls, Minn.; daughter-in-law Enid Gustafson, Santa Clarita, Calif.; Grandchildren Julianna Velthoen, Alison Gruber, Elizabeth Gustafson, Amanda Gustafson, Eric Gustafson, Dane Gustafson, Renae Levang, Brian Levang, and Jessica Levang; and Great Grandchildren Margo Velthoen, Cameron Velthoen, Carsten Long, Solveig Levang, Noelle Levang, and Dahlia Levang; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth will be missed and fondly remembered by her family, and many friends for her life demonstrating patience, love and compassion.
Funeral services were Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church in Kennedy, Minn. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock. Rev. Steve Grosz, presided, Sarah Bushaw, soloist; Shannon Christenson, organist, Lyndon Johnson, soloist and Laurel Johnson, accompanist.
Pall bearers were Greg Sandahl, Dwight Nelson, Jeff Michaelis, Arnell Cummins, Matthew Cummins and Brian Levang.
Austin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth Gustafson went home to be with the Lord, slipping out from a restful sleep May 18, 2011, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D. while in the presence of her family.
Born Juliana Ruth Skarp, Dec. 25, 1920, to David and Olga (Spjut) Skarp, on a farm west of Karlstad, Minn., she graduated from Karlstad High School as valedictorian of the class of 1938.
Following post-high school education from the Agricultural School in Crookston, Minn., with a degree in business (where she also got all A's), she took a position with the bank in Hallock.
While attending the Hallock Mission Covenant Church she met Sander. The couple married Oct. 16, 1944. They farmed west of Hallock where they raised their family. In addition to being a homemaker and being active in the Two River Township Homemaker's Club, and an advisor for her children's 4-H club, she worked for a time as a cook at Hallock High School, later in the front office of a local physician, and subsequently became a Certified Records Technician at the hospital in Hallock. She served on the board of directors of Kittson Memorial Hospital.
Always involved in music Ruth was the church organist at the Hallock Mission Covenant Church, where she and Sander have been activemembers, and in later years at the Kennedy Covenant Church. She played piano for the Golden Age Singers, which performed regularly at the Hallock Nursing Home, as well as playing for special events including the Kittson County Crusade for Christ, for weddings and funerals, as well as singing and playing duets with Sander, and anywhere and any time she was asked. Along with Sander, she was active in the Gideons and the Swedish Heritage Society.
A woman of grace and dignity, she was also fun loving and had a great sense of humor. Right to the end of her earthly life she made statements while in the hospital that demonstrated her wit. Inspite of pain related to arthritis she was never one to complain. Her cheerful disposition brightened the day of all with whom she came in contact.
She was preceded in death by her father, mother, two step-mothers, and her sister Audrey.
She is survived by her husband Sander, children: David (Marina) Gustafson, Hemet, Calif.; Cedric (Cheri) Gustafson, Hallock, Minn.; and Marie (Mark) Levang, Fergus Falls, Minn.; daughter-in-law Enid Gustafson, Santa Clarita, Calif.; Grandchildren Julianna Velthoen, Alison Gruber, Elizabeth Gustafson, Amanda Gustafson, Eric Gustafson, Dane Gustafson, Renae Levang, Brian Levang, and Jessica Levang; and Great Grandchildren Margo Velthoen, Cameron Velthoen, Carsten Long, Solveig Levang, Noelle Levang, and Dahlia Levang; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth will be missed and fondly remembered by her family, and many friends for her life demonstrating patience, love and compassion.
Funeral services were Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church in Kennedy, Minn. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock. Rev. Steve Grosz, presided, Sarah Bushaw, soloist; Shannon Christenson, organist, Lyndon Johnson, soloist and Laurel Johnson, accompanist.
Pall bearers were Greg Sandahl, Dwight Nelson, Jeff Michaelis, Arnell Cummins, Matthew Cummins and Brian Levang.
Austin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Born Juliana Ruth Skarp, Dec. 25, 1920, to David and Olga (Spjut) Skarp, on a farm west of Karlstad, Minn., she graduated from Karlstad High School as valedictorian of the class of 1938.
Following post-high school education from the Agricultural School in Crookston, Minn., with a degree in business (where she also got all A's), she took a position with the bank in Hallock.
While attending the Hallock Mission Covenant Church she met Sander. The couple married Oct. 16, 1944. They farmed west of Hallock where they raised their family. In addition to being a homemaker and being active in the Two River Township Homemaker's Club, and an advisor for her children's 4-H club, she worked for a time as a cook at Hallock High School, later in the front office of a local physician, and subsequently became a Certified Records Technician at the hospital in Hallock. She served on the board of directors of Kittson Memorial Hospital.
Always involved in music Ruth was the church organist at the Hallock Mission Covenant Church, where she and Sander have been activemembers, and in later years at the Kennedy Covenant Church. She played piano for the Golden Age Singers, which performed regularly at the Hallock Nursing Home, as well as playing for special events including the Kittson County Crusade for Christ, for weddings and funerals, as well as singing and playing duets with Sander, and anywhere and any time she was asked. Along with Sander, she was active in the Gideons and the Swedish Heritage Society.
A woman of grace and dignity, she was also fun loving and had a great sense of humor. Right to the end of her earthly life she made statements while in the hospital that demonstrated her wit. Inspite of pain related to arthritis she was never one to complain. Her cheerful disposition brightened the day of all with whom she came in contact.
She was preceded in death by her father, mother, two step-mothers, and her sister Audrey.
She is survived by her husband Sander, children: David (Marina) Gustafson, Hemet, Calif.; Cedric (Cheri) Gustafson, Hallock, Minn.; and Marie (Mark) Levang, Fergus Falls, Minn.; daughter-in-law Enid Gustafson, Santa Clarita, Calif.; Grandchildren Julianna Velthoen, Alison Gruber, Elizabeth Gustafson, Amanda Gustafson, Eric Gustafson, Dane Gustafson, Renae Levang, Brian Levang, and Jessica Levang; and Great Grandchildren Margo Velthoen, Cameron Velthoen, Carsten Long, Solveig Levang, Noelle Levang, and Dahlia Levang; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth will be missed and fondly remembered by her family, and many friends for her life demonstrating patience, love and compassion.
Funeral services were Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church in Kennedy, Minn. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock. Rev. Steve Grosz, presided, Sarah Bushaw, soloist; Shannon Christenson, organist, Lyndon Johnson, soloist and Laurel Johnson, accompanist.
Pall bearers were Greg Sandahl, Dwight Nelson, Jeff Michaelis, Arnell Cummins, Matthew Cummins and Brian Levang.
Austin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
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