Ruth Larson

Ruth Bernice Larson

Ruth passed away on December 1st surrounded by the love of her family. Ruth was born to Theodore and Anna (Gilbertson) Topper on January 2, 1920 in Barneveld, Iowa County, WI. Her family moved from the area and settled in the rural district of Menomonie, WI. It was then that she met her future husband, William. They were married on August 22, 1936 and lived in St. Paul, MN with the hopes that William could find employment. In 1937 their first child Arden was born. Eventually they managed to purchase their first home in the suburbs of St. Paul. Three years later they had their daughter, Barbara. They moved back to Wisconsin and bought a 40 acre farm and in a few years they were able to buy the adjoining land. Ruth and Bill built and maintained the "Skyport Airport" on that land.

Ruth worked outside the home at Lange's Canning Company, as a Cook at Jeatran's Supper Club, and finally at Stout State University. There she had the position of a salad cook. She also did as much of the farm work as she was able as her husband also held a job as a carpenter.

Because her husband's health was failing, they sold the farm and became "caretakers" of a girl's camp called We-haw-kee. Ruth cleaned the cabins, washed the bedding for the campers and helped in the kitchen. Her husband took care of the maintenance. His health forced them to leave. They built a house in Stillwater, MN to be closer to family and in 1976 her husband after 40 years of marriage passed away. She continued to live in their house until 2006. She then moved to an assisted living apartment in the city, and the final move was in 2009 to the local nursing home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William and her parents; her brothers, Gilman, Marvin, Clifford, and Donald; sisters, Mildred, Hazel, Esther and an infant sister, Ruth; grandson, Cary Larson and her granddaughter's husband, Scott Swanson.

Ruth is survived by son, Arden and wife Sandy of Andover, MN; daughter, Barbara and husband William Dahler of Stillwater, MN; 5 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

Special thank you to Dr. Dale Meyer of Woodbury Clinic for his care as well as the loving care Ruth received from Good Samaritan Home.

Service Monday, December 10, 2012, 11:00 A.M. at ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 609 5th Street South, Stillwater, MN. Interment Halvorsen Cemetery, Menomonie, WI. Visitation one hour prior to the service at church.