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
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