Tollefsrud, Ruth Lucille (Rustad) 1924 - 2013
TOLLEFSRUD, RUSTAD, LOMEN, PHILLIPS, GUNDERSON, DAVIS, ZEIG, STEPANEK, MOTTET, ROETHLISBERGER, MARTIN, ERICKSON, MILLER, LOGAN, MURPHY, RAWLINSON, SHIMEK, NOVAK, GOSSMAN, BROOKS, HOLKESVIK, STENSETH, DOTZENROD
Posted By: Norman Hjelmeland (email)
Date: 1/8/2014 at 10:42:03
Ruth Lucille Tollefsrud, age 89, of Mabel, MN, formerly of Decorah, Iowa, died on Monday, March 11, 2013, at the Green Lea Manor in Mabel, MN.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 15, 2013, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Mark Kvale presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Friday morning.
The family suggests that memorials may be given in memory of Ruth Lucille Tollefsrud to the American Diabetes Association, the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA, 52101; the Green Lea Manor Nursing Home, 115 Lyndale, Mabel, MN, 55954; or to the Heartland Hospice, 3143 Superior Drive Suite A, Rochester, MN, 55901.
Ruth Lucille (Rustad) Tollefsrud was born on February 9, 1924, the daughter of Abraham and Olena (Lomen) Rustad in Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, rural Decorah, Iowa. Ruth was baptized on March 2, 1924 and confirmed on May 22, 1938 both at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. She attended rural school in the Decorah School District. On November 28, 1944, she was united in marriage to Charles William Tollefsrud at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust. They were engaged in farming for several years in the Decorah area until moving to Rochester, MN in 1965. Later moving to Hiawatha, Iowa in 1972 and then returning to the Decorah area in April 1991, where they built their retirement home. Ruth and Charles moved to The Meadows Assisted Living in Mabel, Minnesota in July 2005. Ruth entered the Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in December 2008. Ruth took many memorable trips with her daughters, and one was in 1989 when she went to the East Coast, and Washington, DC. She toured the White House and Arlington Cemetery with her two daughters, Cheryl and Carol. She liked to go to travel to Branson, MO, go dancing at Matters Ballroom, go camping, attend family reunions and their winters that they spent in Phoenix, Arizona. She loved to cook and bake, especially her Norwegian recipes. You could always find her in the kitchen with her apron on. She always used her Grandmother Lomens’ rolling pin from Norway to make her lefse every holiday. She taught her daughters to the skill of making lefse, and to be good cooks. No one can make “buns” like “Mrs. T”, and her apple pies were “mouthwatering”. Her greatest love was her family and always put their needs before her own. She loved to embroider pillowcases and towels and her love of flowers, was apparent even after they moved to Assisted Living in Mabel. Their apartment was always decorated so beautiful. Ruth enjoyed her Bingo, “Red Hat Ladies Day” each month, along with country music, and an occasional Hawkeye game. After their move to “The Meadows Assisted Living” Ruth commented to the staff, “finally after cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes for 61 years, I can finally sit back and let someone else do it for me”. Ruth was a loving, caring wife, mother and grandmother who dearly loved her family and will be missed by all. She was a member of the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church and ladies circle.
Ruth is survived by her husband: Charles Tollefsrud, Mabel, MN. Eight children: Cheryl Phillips, Calmar, IA; Carol (Marvin) Gunderson, Spring Grove, MN; Barbara (Tom) Davis, Canton, MN; Linda (Leo) Zeig, New Ulm, MN; Daryl (Fran) Tollefsrud, Peoria, AZ; Rhonda (Mike) Stepanek, Cedar Rapids, IA; Janet Mottet, Cedar Rapids, IA; and Patricia (Randy) Roethlisberger, Cedar Rapids, IA. Nineteen grandchildren: Lori (Mark) Martin, Larry (Sharon) Phillips, Kevin Phillips, Tim (Allison) Gunderson, Terry (Krystie) Gunderson, James (Kristie) Davis, Jennifer (Peter) Erickson, Brian Miller, Jeff (Jessica) Miller, Jason (Casie) Miller, Kellie (Alex) Logan, Krista (fiancé, Cory Murphy) Tollefsrud, Alissa (Ryan) Rawlinson, Brentt (Kristin) Stepanek, Chad (Jayme) Stepanek, Justin & Jeni Mottet, Maxwell (Amber) Roethlisberger & Nicole Roethlisberger. Twenty-five great grandchildren: Ami & Jessica Phillips, Donny Shimek, Shannon Dotzenrod, Lexi, Brady, Zachary, Samuel & Lilyann Gunderson, Brent, Chandler & Davis Erickson, Delanie & Avery Davis, McKayla, Jordan, Emma, Leyton & Reese Miller, Baylee Rawlinson, Reid, James, Keesten & Raylei Stepanek, and Liliana Roethlisberger. Five great great grandchildren: Brayden Novak, Ezra Phillips, Zeppelin Gossman, Veda & Hazel Shimek. One sister: Shirley (Bob) Brooks, Houston, TX. One brother-in-law: Allen Holkesvik, Decorah, IA. One sister-in-law: Jeanette Rustad – Stenseth, Decorah, IA, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents: Abe and Olena (Lomen) Rustad. Three brothers: Edward Rustad, Otis Rustad and twin brother: Russell Rustad. Two sisters: Adeline Rustad and Virginia Holkesvik. One sister-in-law: Mary (Harvey) Rustad. One son-in-law: Frank Phillips.
Source: Schluter-Balik Funeral Home database
Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen