Mrs. LAWRENCE (Ruth Asleson) McIntyre BIRKNER 1948-2004

ASLESON, BIRKNER, HAMM, GIES, LIECK

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 8/20/2005 at 20:48:42

Ruth McIntyre Birkner

Ruth McIntyre Birkner of Sedona, Ariz., died at the age of 55, Monday, February 16, 2004, at her home. She and her husband of 15 years, Lawrence "Larry" R. Birkner, were murdered during an armed robbery at their home in Sedona, according to the Coconino County Medical Examiner. Three suspects have been arrested.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, March 9 at St. John's Catholic Church, Spring Green, Wis. Burial was held February 24 at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Association, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Ruth graduated from Monona High School in Monona, Iowa. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in business administration from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. Most recently, Ruth was the president of McIntyre Birkner & Associates, a Sedona-based safety, industrial hygiene, and management consulting firm. She devised training protocols for emergency response to environmental, health, and safety hazards. Much of her career was devoted to providing continuing education for adult learners. She ran programs that ranged from teaching supervisors how to conduct occupational safety and health compliance training to technical preparation courses for industrial hygiene certification. She developed, and for many years managed, the adult learning departments at the University of Minnesota Medical School at St. Paul-Ramsey Hospital, Ramsey Clinic, the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Los Angeles. An accomplished public speaker, Ruth was an active and longtime member of Toastmasters International. She enjoyed running, hiking, horseback riding, writing poetry, volunteering at the local synagogue, and spending time with her family and friends.

Ruth was born September 8, 1948, in Waterville, Iowa, the daughter of Rita Asleson of Spring Green and the late Ellert Asleson. Besides her mother, Ruth is survived by her step-daughter, Gabrielle Birkner of New York City; four sisters, Patricia (Keith) Hamm of Dubuque, Iowa, Rose Asleson of Madison, Wis., Kathy (Harold) Gies of Lone Rock, Wis., and Mary (Mike) Lieck of Waunakee, Wis.; eight brothers, Kenneth (Earlene) Asleson of Independence, Iowa, Ronald (Deanne) Asleson of Dubuque, Richard (Norma) Asleson of Monona, Iowa, Gary (Charlene) Asleson of Ravenswood, W. V., Dale Asleson of Williamsburg, Iowa, David (Jan) Asleson of Plainfield, Wis., James (Elke) Asleson of Albany, Ore., and Gerald (Heather) Asleson of Hancock, Wis.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial donations on behalf of Ruth and Larry Birkner may be made to the family at the Stafford Funeral Home, 780 N. Winsted Street, Spring Green, WI 53588.

©Waukon Standard 2004
source: Waukon Standard, Waukon, Allamakee Co. IA, 3/10/2004