Ruth Christensen

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

  Ruth Ann Norman, the second of eight children to James Henry and Ruth (Getz) Norman, was born Nov. 3, 1926, at Herman, Minn.  She attended country school and Hoffman High School, graduating in 1944.  She moved to St. Paul, Minn., and worked at a hospital and later for a sandpaper company for the war effort.  In 1945, Ruth and a girlfriend moved to Chamberlain, S.D., to work at the JCPenney store. Later, she worked at the Sears Roebuck desk in the Red Owl Store for Otto Saukerson. Ruth met John Christensen during the middle of June in 1946, and on Oct. 26, 1946, they were united in marriage. Thery had four daughters, Edith, Ethel, Karen and Christine.  Ruth was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 55 years, a member of the Prime Cowbells, Prairie Star Extension Club, Treasurer of the Hill Telephone Company and a member of the Missouri River Square Dance Club. Ruth was a member of the Blum Circle at the United Church of Christ in Chamberlain. She was a mother and homemaker her entire life, all the while helping John with the farm, raising Simmental cattle, sheep and pigs.  She had a passion for gardening and houseplants. Her hobby was making many beautiful quilts which she gave to those she loved.  Ruth died Feb. 24, 2009, at Sanford Mid Dakota Medical Center at Chamberlain. She was 82. Preceding her in death were her parents; and a brother, Bill Norman.  She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John, of Oacoma, S.D.; four daughters, Edith Christensen and close friend Wally Jacobson of Howard, S.D., Ethel Johnson of Norwood, Minn, Karen (Don) Kraus of Custer, S.D., and Christine  (Rick) Laughlin of Brandon, S.D.; 10 grandchildren, Mike and Greg Schuchardt, Ryan, Jon and Heather Johnson, Brian, Lori and Jeff Kraus, Rochelle (Dean) Lund, and Mallory Laughlin; great-grandson Spencer Lund; sisters, Dorothy Engel of Lakeville, Minn., Ardell (Wayne) Rohloff of Morris, Minn., Betty Anderson of Hoffman, Minn., and June (Wally) Sibell of Minneapolis, Minn.;  two brothers, Jim (Betty) Norman of Underwood, Minn., and Howard (Joni) Norman of Alexandria, Minn.  Funeral services were Feb. 28 at United Church of Christ in Chamberlain, with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Oacoma. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Church of Christ, 101 N. Merrill, Chamberlain, SD 57325, or the Alzheimer’s Association, 1000 N. West Avenue #250, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.