Ruth L. Christenson age 58 of Alexandria died on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at her home. A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Inurnment will be at Kinkead Cemetery followed by a gathering for family and friends at Ruth's Home.
In lieu of flowers, Ruth requested donations to the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, to be designated for Camp Mak-A-Dream scholarships. Address is: 4604 Chicago Ave; Minneapolis, MN 55407
Ruth Leslie Christenson was born in Olivia, Minnesota on July 31, 1956, the third child of Llewellyn "Bud" Christenson and Thelma (Hausken) Christenson. She was baptized in the Lutheran church at Hector, Minnesota and was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. She graduated from Jefferson Senior High School in 1974. After attending Concordia College for two years, she transferred to Moorhead State and received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1979. Ruth taught elementary physical education in Thousand Oaks, California. She earned a computer programming degree from Alexandria technical school and worked for Midwest Data company in Willmar for 26 years, beginning as a computer programmer, and later as manager of product development and integration. She worked full time for Home Depot for almost a year until chemotherapy for her cancer made it impossible for her to continue. She then returned to live in Alexandria and joined Calvary Lutheran Church where she had attended services for many years with her parents.
Ruth was an active person who played sports in high school, on college teams, and on recreational teams as an adult. She played softball, basketball, volleyball, and field hockey. Ruth was all conference in college field hockey. She loved weight lifting. In 2014 she and her teammates were invited back to Moorhead state and were honored as trailblazers for women's collegiate sports. She honored her mother and others by completing the three day 60 mile Susan G Komen walk for breast cancer. She enjoyed the outdoors, walking with her two dogs, Nido and Pupen on the trails near her home.
After her cancer was diagnosed, Ruth attended conferences sponsored by FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), an organization for women with genetic mutations that increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer. She also participated in The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, completing three years of walks for fundraising, and receiving a fundraising award for her efforts. Ruth attended Camp Mak-A-Dream in Montana in 2013 with other women from around the nation who were suffering from ovarian cancer. In 2014 she was one of three chosen as an Honorary Survivor by the Douglas County Relay for Life.
Ruth was a quiet person who thought before she spoke and whose words were kind. She was practical, steadfast, loyal, sensitive, forgiving, and compassionate. She suffered without complaint. She was strong, physically, mentally, and spiritually. She reached out to people in her quiet way and made and nurtured friendships wherever she went. Ruth cherished the support of her friends from Camp Mak-A-Dream, some of whom preceded her in death. She was close to everyone in her family - a loving sister, niece, cousin, aunt, and great aunt.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents and grandparents, two uncles, two aunts, and two cousins. She is survived by her siblings and their spouses, Janet (John) Rahm, Steven (Sally) Christenson, and Peter Christenson; her nephews John (Kelsi) Rahm and Peter Christenson, and two great nieces, Freya and Solveig Rahm. She also precedes into eternal life her godparents, Dodie and Herm Talle, and other dear aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, including her long time friend and companion Kathryn Porter.
Celebrate life and rejoice that Ruth is with The Lord.
Mrs. Ruth Anna Steen of Alexandria, Minnesota passed away at the age of 100, on her birthday, February 1st, 2016. Ruth was born to Alfred Jacob and Anna (Swedberg) Berglund, immigrants from Sweden, on February 1st, 1916 on a farm in La Grande Township, Douglas County, near Alexandria, Minnesota.
Ruth was raised on the farm and attended public country school for one year. In 1926, she was transferred to the School for the Deaf in Faribault, Minnesota, and graduated from that school in 1938. In the following fall, she was offered a job as a seamstress for the school and worked there for nine years. In 1947, she quit her job and came home to Alexandria to take care of her mother.
On February 14th, 1948, she was united in marriage to Olaf Peter Steen, who was a brick layer for many years until his death in 1963. They had three children, sons Philip and Donald and a daughter, Deanna.
Ruth was employed as a cleaning lady at the Viking Motel in Alexandria in 1960 and worked there until her husband Olaf’s death. Ruth went back to work later. In 1971, she started to work at Douglas County Hospital, first in the laundry for four years and later in the dietary department where she worked until her retirement in 1983. In Ruth's retirement, she traveled and spent more time with her children and their families which she enjoyed very much. She also went with a group of Christians from Christ Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on their trip to Israel in 1985. Ruth enjoyed the sightseeing and walking in the areas where Jesus walked. It was a very interesting tour.
Ruth was a member of the Alexandria Assembly of God Church and was active in Women's Ministries. She also enjoyed the "Work & Share’s" for years. Ruth also enjoyed singing with the choir and performing solo’s in sign language. She got saved in 1948.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Olaf; parents, Jacob and Anna; sisters, Lillian, Julia, Myrtle, and Elizabeth; and brother, Axel. She is survived by sons, Philip (Joan), Donald (Harriett); daughter, Deanna (Olen) Rainey; six grandchildren, Shawna Williams (Vince); Nicole (Andrew) Snyder; Valerie Steen; Peter (Katie) Steen; Treis (Jodi) Rainey; Marissa (Michael) Raguet; eight great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Williams, Blake Williams, Gavin Williams, Alethea Steen, Job Steen, Lilias Steen, Eleanor Snyder, Sabrina Snyder; one sister, Mabel; many nieces and nephews.
Ruth wrote her own obituary around 1990.
A funeral service will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Living Waters Church in Alexandria, MN at 11:00 AM. A visitation will be held on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria, MN and also one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Pallbearers will be Wayne Lee, Merv Roggow, Alan Berglund, Douglas Strand, Vince Williams and Michael Raguet. Musicians will be, Peter and Katie Steen and their children and Jody Englund, and Pastor Sam McKay officiating. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net
Elderoine “Elly” Sordahl, age 91, of Willmar and formerly of Alexandria, died Sunday morning, January 31, at Bethesda Pleasant View Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 4, at the Calvary Lutheran Church Chapel in Willmar. Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Elderoine “Elly” Margaret Sordahl was born on June 21, 1924, in Raymond, Minnesota, the daughter of George and Hulda (Martin) Kluver. She grew up in Alexandria, received her education there and began working as a nurses aide at the Starbuck Hospital. In 1947, Elly married Delbert John Affeldt. They made their home in Alexandria where she worked as a homemaker. In 1964, Delbert died. In 1975, Elly was married to Maynard Sordahl and they made their home in Willmar. Elly worked as a cooks helper making the school lunch at the Willmar Jr. High. In 1978 Maynard died and Elly then began working fulltime at Juba’s Deli. She was also a volunteer grandma for the Willmar schools. She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. Elly enjoyed reading, watching TV and flower gardening.
She is survived by four children, Donald Affeldt of Corcoran, Shirley (and Gary) Kluver of Alexandria, Michael Affeldt of Willmar and Judy (and Brian) Gislason of Willmar; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Also surviving is one brother, Arnold (and Bernie) Kluver of Kenosha, WI., and one sister, Donna Camberlan of Denver, CO., besides other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; one son, Ronald in 1973; four brothers, Gordon, Larry, Reuben and Harold; and her special companion, Robert Holland.
