Irene Ruzich

Irene Ruzich, age 99 of Hills, MN, formerly of Dawson, MN died Thursday, January 06, 2011 at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN Burial will be prior on Friday, Jan. 7th at Flower Field Cemetery in Hills, MN. Memorial services will be 1:00 PM, Wednesday, Jan. 12th at Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills with Rev. Mahlon Bekedam officiating. Irene (Rortvedt) Ruzich was born May 27, 1911 along with her twin sister Inez; to Osmund and Mari (Paulson) Rortvedt on the family farm NW of Hills, Minnesota. In 1912 the Rortvedt family moved to a farm a half mile east of Hills which remained in their family until 1995 when Irene was the only surviving family member. Irene received her education in the Hills Consolidated School. After she and Inez graduated, they attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, both majoring in education. Irene found her dream teaching first grade where she continued for forty years, the last 17 years in Dawson, MN. Irene married Steve Ruzich on June 27, 1953 in Pipestone, MN. They continued to live in Dawson where Steve was a High School Teacher and basketball coach until their retirement. Together they enjoyed many many trips through much of the forty eight states and spent one whole summer in Europe where they visited Norway, where Irenes parents immigrated from, and Serbia where Steves family immigrated from. They enjoyed living in Dawson until 2005 when health issues required them to move to the Tuff Village Assisted Living facility in Hills, MN. Steve passed away in June 2006. Irene moved to the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills in November 2008 where she remained until this past Thursday January 6, 2011 where she died at the age of 99. Irene is survived by her niece, Carol (Richard) Sundem of Sioux Falls, SD; a nephew, Donald (Judi) Thompson of Sioux Falls, SD; 22 great-nieces and nephews plus their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Steve Ruzich; her parents; four sisters, including her twin Inez Roen, Clara Thompson, Alma Berdahl, and Martha Rortvedt; two brothers, Arthur Rortvedt and Oscar Rortvedt.