Ruth M. Lundberg

Ruth Marion Swanson Lundberg of rural Rush City and most recently of Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge, Minnesota ended her journey on this earth on June 16, 2003 at the age of 104 years, 4 months, and 17 days when she was received into the loving arms of Jesus.
Ruth Marion was born into the family of Otto and Anna Swanson of Rock Creek Twp., Pine County, Minn. on Jan. 29, 1899. She was the ninth child in a family which eventually totaled 13. For the first six years of her life, this family of five boys and seven girls (one girl died in infancy) lived in a two room log house with a loft. When Ruth was seven the family moved into a newly built two-story house on their farm, which is still standing today.
Ruth started school at the age of 7, and attended two rural schools ñ Districts 13 and 23. Since Ruthís parents had both emigrated from Sweden, she knew only the Swedish language when she started school and had to learn the English language at school. As was the custom then, she took an exam at the age of 15 which she passed and then was done with her formal education.
At the age of 11 she began to work in various neighborhood homes in the summertime. At the age of 16 she and a friend went to Duluth by train and worked there. From there she went to Minneapolis to work, but was called home in February of 1919 as her mother had died of a massive stroke at the age of 56. She stayed home to help care for her younger sisters and to help with the farm work.
On Oct. 20, 1920 Ruth was united in marriage to Carl Oscar Lundberg. Oscar had come from Sweden in 1909, and after having worked at various places came to work as a hired man for Ruthís father. Ruth and Oscar worked in Minneapolis and then in 1922 decided to make a trip home to Sweden to visit Oscarís relatives there. They traveled by steamship, which took nearly three weeks to reach Sweden. Upon their return in 1923 they again worked in Minneapolis until in 1928 when they came back to the Swanson farm to begin farming. In 1940 they purchased a farm nearby, and farmed until retirement. In 1970 they lost their home to a fire.
After OscarÇs death in 1981, Ruth continued to live in their mobile home on the farm until 1987, at which time she moved to the home of her daughter Elaine where she remained until entering Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge at the age of 101.
Ruth will be remembered as a very hard worker, as a person who was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed whether it be farm work or housework, as a mother and grandmother who always put the needs of her family above her own, as a person with a great sense of humor, as a person who was concerned about each member of her family up until the day of her death, and as a person who will be missed more than words can say. Her advice to her loved ones was to learn to say ìit doesnít matterî and encouraged everyone to enjoy the health and relaxation benefits of deep breathing. We thank God that even at the age of 104 she was still able to converse and reminisce with us and sometimes remember things that we could not.
Ruth is survived by three loving children: Ethyl Hendrickson of Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge, Elaine and husband Oliver Westman of Rush City, and Lonnie and wife Charlotte of Isanti; 14 grandchildren and spouses, 29 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Oscar, son-in-law Willard Hendrickson, 12 sisters and brothers and their spouses, her husbandís siblings and their spouses, an infant grandson and great-great grandson, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, June 19 at the Rush City Baptist Church with Rev. David Melin and Chaplain Paul Reynolds officiating. Music was provided by Ruthís grandchildren and organist Pat Stenmo. Casket bearers were grandsons David Hendrickson, John Hendrickson, Jim Westman, Barry Westman, David Lundberg and Keith Lundberg. Serving as honorary casketbearers were grandchildren Karen Stordahl, Lorna Wiener, Barb Westman, Sandy Westman, Sharon Westman, Kathy Hansmann, Caroyl Johnson and Craig Lundberg.
Interment is at First Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Funeral & Cremation Service of Rush City - Olson Chapel.

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