Just two days before her 99th birthday, Ruth Bernice Stimmler passed away at the Care Center in Grand Marais where she has resided for 9½ years.
Ruth was born October 18, 1913, to Hannah and Solomon Tidslevold, immigrants from Norway, and lived on a small farm in Clark, SD, until she was 10 years old. Ruth, her sister Inez and brother Nels moved with their parents to Minneapolis, MN, where she spent much of her life. She married Anthony Stimmler in 1935 and had five children. Ruth was a full-time, devoted mother, but became a young widow at the age of 38. Her children then ranged in age from 2 to 15 years.
Parenting was her major goal in life; living with many hardships she remained a full-time parent until all the children were in school. She then worked around their schedule, finding work in the local school lunch program and later full-time work in the kitchens of the University of Minnesota.
Ruth loved to travel and had the Viking spirit, so she traveled later in life with her grown children. She visited her Norwegian relatives twice and lived for a time in Florida and in beautiful Hawaii. Ruth enjoyed the simple things in life, was good-natured and always centered her life on the family.
She moved to Grand Marais for eight years during the 1980s, helping with grandchildren Nadine, Lynn and Brian. Ruth also enjoyed babysitting other children and eventually helping daughter Bonnie in her Pierre’s Pizza restaurant.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband
Anthony in 1951, brother Nels in 1933, sister Inez in 2012 and daughter Janet in 1988.
She is survived by four children, Bonnie Swanson (Dick) of Grand Marais, Karen Bjorkman of Kona, HI, Richard Stimmler (Priscilla), of Fountain Hills, AZ, and Gerald Stimmler (Paula) of St. Paul, MN and 10 grandchildren, Michelle Kauth, Diane Young (Ed), Michael Kauth (Anna), Danny Kauth, Nadine Maki, Brian Swanson (Andreea), Lynn Swanson (Tim), Anthony Stimmler (Katy), Elizabeth Stimmler and Paul Stimmler. Ruth also had nine great-grandchildren, Nick, Jackie, Kieran, Lars, Evan, Erik, Mara, Chloe and Sadie and one great-great-granddaughter, Olivia.
The family is thankful for her peaceful passing, and for all the love and care she has received at the Care Center. She will be sorely missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m.
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