Ruth Kruse

Hills, MN Ruth Kruse age 88 of Hills, MN died Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thurs., Dec. 31, 2009, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, MN with Rev. Mary Dodgson, officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Hills, MN. Visitation will be Wednesday, Dec. 30th from 2:00 " 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills, MN. Ruth Caroline Anna (Ahrendt) Kruse was welcomed into this world on November 20, 1921. She was born at home, on a farm near Luverne, MN, the first-born child of George and Cora (Rentschler) Ahrendt. She was baptized at home on December 4, 1921. Her family moved to a farm in Sioux County, Iowa when she was 3 months old. She attended country school, walking 1 miles to get there, or traveling by horse-drawn wagon or bobsled in inclement weather. She learned to drive when she was about 12 years old. Growing up on the family farm, she helped with many chores, including milking the cows, but also found time for piano and tap dance lessons. Her mother encouraged her to go on to high school, but since there were no school buses, she rode with friends who had a car, and then boarded in town during the winter months. She graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1939. After helping out at home for a year, she enrolled at West Mar College in LeMars, IA, taking elementary education courses. She became a teacher and went on to teach in rural schools for 6 ½ years. On September 25, 1948, she married Edwin Kruse at Inwood, IA. The couple farmed near Inwood and Ruth taught school nearby, then moved to the Kruse family farm. In 1950, they moved to a farm near Larchwood, IA. and farmed there for 12 years. She raised many broods of chicks, ducks, and geese. Having an opportunity to buy a farm, they moved to Hills, MN and farmed there for 10 years. During this time, Ruth worked as a nursing aide at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, and occasionally as a substitute teacher. In 1973, they moved to Waubun, MN where they owned and operated Kruses Hideaway Resort. They retired in 1989 and returned to Hills, enjoying a well-deseved break from the fast pace of resort life. Edwin passed away in 1998. Ruth has resided at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills since January of 2001, and passed away there on December 22 at the age of 88. Ruth was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Hills, and Lake Grove Lutheran Church of Waubun. She devoted time to teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and served on the Board of Education, and was active in the womens Circles. She was a member of the Itaska West Resort Association and various homemaker clubs. Edwin and Ruth belonged to a Pinochle Club for many years. She served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, quilting, cooking and baking, and a love of music. She enjoyed entertaining and helping others, and always had a positive attitude. She loved people and her work at the resort gave her an opportunity to meet many new people and form many friendships. Her faith was also very important to her. She will be remembered for her kindness and loving smile, which endured til the end. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth (LaVonne) Kruse, Jackson, MN, and Daniel Kruse, San Francisco, CA; two daughters, Shirley (Eugene) Sandager, Hills, MN, and Judy Kruse, Mt. View, Hawaii; five grandchildren, Cindy Dinkel, Jeff Kruse, Tarah Huston, Brittany Sandager, and Kelly Sandager; four great-grandchildren, Trevin and Trajan Dinkel, and Chloe and Jonathan Huston; two brothers, Kenneth (Mary) Ahrendt, and George (Lazetta) Ahrendt, Inwood, IA; and a sister-in-law, Virginia Ahrendt, Sacramento, CA. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin, her parents, two brothers, Vernon and Robert, a granddaughter, Amy, and a sister-in-law, Trudy Ahrendt.