Fretheim, Ruth Carola (Bjerkvig) 1925 - 2016

FRETHEIM, BJERKVIG, BERG, BENZING, BUSTA, NOVAK, CORCORAN, WILKINS, STUART, BAUER, JUNGJOHANN, SIMS, CAGE, DILDINE, RASMUSSEN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/6/2016 at 10:51:53

Ruth Fretheim, age 90, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the Madison Lutheran Church, 2658 Madison Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Jeff Hansen officiating. Burial will be in the Madison Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa.

Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Friday, May 6, 2016 at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning.

Ruth Carola (Bjerkvig) Fretheim was born on November 14, 1925, the daughter of Joseph and Inga (Berg) Bjerkvig near Zumbrota, MN. She was the last remaining member of the Bjerkvig family to die. Ruth attended country school at “Lena School”, District 72. The school was 2 ½ miles from her home. Ruth and her brother and sister walked to school except in the winter when it was cold, their dad took them in a sleigh. Ruth grew up in the Depression years of the 1930’s. Everyone who lived on a farm raised their own food. Everyone helped with the work. There was no extra money for luxuries, but there were fun times such as: visiting neighbors, birthday parties, Christmas dinner at relatives and in the summer going on a picnic in a pasture by a stream or to a park along the Mississippi. Ruth attended Zumbrota High School, graduating in 1944. After high school, Ruth was in the “Cadet Nurse Corp” at Red Wing. She then went to work for Kraft Cheese at the Farmers Milk Plant in Zumbrota. Ruth and three other women were the first women Kraft hired to make cheese. She was there for over a year until she enrolled at Northwest Institute of Medical Technology in Minneapolis. Ruth graduated in June of 1946 and started working at the hospital in Decorah on July 1, 1946 as a lab and x-ray technician. Ruth worked at the hospital until she married Herbert Fretheim on March, 17, 1951, at the United Lutheran Church in Zumbrota, Minnesota. To this union, six children were born: Wayne, Carol, Warren, Connie, Ruth Ann and Wesley. She then worked for Doctors Dahlquist and Svendson until her first child was born in August, 1952. Ruth stayed at home with her children for eleven years and then went back to work at the hospital in 1964, where she stayed until her retirement in 1987. Ruth enjoyed rosemaling, going to Volkswalks, bowling, baby sitting and going to school activities involving her grandchildren. She also enjoyed bird watching, crocheting, quilting, riding her bicycle and her dogs, cats and chickens. Ruth was a supporting member of the Vesterheim Museum where she donated some of her family’s heirlooms. She also enjoyed attending the Nordic Fest. Ruth was a member of the Madison Lutheran Church.

Ruth’s survivors include her three daughters: Carol (Steve) Benzing, Decorah, IA; Connie (Dave) Busta, Decorah, IA and Ruth Ann (Steve) Novak, Cresco, IA. Three sons: Wayne Fretheim, Minneapolis, MN; Warren (Linda) Fretheim, Ridgeway, IA and Wesley Fretheim, Decorah, IA. Eleven grandchildren: Erika Benzing, Ryan Benzing, Kara (Josh) Corcoran; Amber Wilkins and Kyle Fretheim; Michael (Ann) Busta, Tom (Hon) Busta; Cody (Melissa) Stuart and Megan (Casey) Bauer; Justin and Zachary Fretheim. Nine great grandchildren: Jade Jungjohann, Isaac Busta, Hallie & Aaron Busta, Collin & Taylor Stuart, Maci & Tarron Bauer and Ariel Wilkins. One sister-in-law: Olive Sims, Decorah, IA, along with several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband: Herbert Fretheim on September 5, 2007. Her parents: Joseph and Inga (Berg) Bjerkvig. Brother: Jannes Bjerkvig. Sister: Shirley Cage. Father and mother-in-law: Olaf and Ruby Fretheim. Brothers-in-law: Harold Sims, Thomas Dildine, Everett Cage and Ervin Rasmussen. Sister-in-law: Arlene Rasmussen.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Madison Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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