Ruth Naomi (nee Telander) Johnson Ryder

 

On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, our dear mother and grandmother, Ruth Naomi (nee Telander) Johnson Ryder passed away at home, at the Commons on Marice in Eagan, Minnesota at the age of 98.

Ruth was born on October 12, 1917 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

She was class valedictorian and the last living member of St. Paul’s Johnson Senior High School class of 1934. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with high honors, she taught high school for three years. In early 1943 she was accepted into the Marine Officers Candidate School. Upon her commissioning as lieutenant in the Marine Women’s Reserve, she was stationed as a staff officer at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. She was then stationed at Camp Matthews in La Jolla, California as executive officer of the Women’s Marine Battalion. While stationed at Camp Matthews, she became the first woman in U.S.M.C. history to qualify as expert on both the M1 Garand rifle and the .45 automatic pistol.

She married 1st. Lt. Curtiss Johnson (U.S. Army) on April 12, 1945 in La Jolla, California, and was honorably discharged in January 1946, holding the rank of captain.

She was preceded in death by her father Helmer Telander, mother Ann Telander Anderson, stepfather John Anderson, brother Dave Telander, sister Laura Ferguson, stepsister Eleanor Anderson, son-in-law Gregory Palfe, and loving husband Curtiss Johnson.

She is survived by her children Kristin Palfe of Eagan, Minnesota, Margot Roberts (Steven) of Ely, Minnesota, the Reverend Curtiss De Mars- Johnson (Reneé) of Okemos, Michigan, and Rolf Johnson (Wendy) of Centerville, Minnesota. She is also survived by her grandson Kyle De Mars- Johnson (Jenny) of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Ruth had a deep faith in God and a big smile rooted in heartfelt joy and gratitude. She was a true loving friend to many.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at the Commons on Marice in Eagan, Minnesota, with a private interment at Fort Snelling in June.

Memorials to honor Ruth Johnson Ryder may be given to either the Commons on Marice Employee Recognition Fund (Eagan, Minnesota) or the Regions Hospital Foundation, HealthPartners Hospice & Palliative Care program (St. Paul).