Ruth Arleen Swenson

Ruth Swenson age 93 of Balaton, MN, formerly of the Walnut Grove/Westbrook area died Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton. A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, June 12, 2010 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. A luncheon will be served following the service in the Lakeview Assisted Living dining area. Interment will be at 4:00 PM in the Old Westbrook Lutheran Cemetery, rural Westbrook, MN. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton is handling the arrangements. Ruth Arleen Swenson was born March 11, 1917 to John G. and Mildred (Belz) Henkel in Buena Vista County, IA. As a young girl she moved with her family to Garvin, MN and later to a farm in the Balaton, MN area. She attended Country School District #40 and Balaton Public Schools. She then went to work for Summermeryer’s Grocery Store in Balaton and also for Blake Dentist Office in Tracy, MN. On December 1, 1945 Ruth married Stanford Swenson and they made their home on a farm in Highwater Township, near Lamberton, MN. They retired from farming and moved into Lamberton in 1990. After her husband’s death in 1995, Ruth remained in her home until 2000 when she moved to Balaton. Ruth enjoyed crafts, sewing, quilting, and baking, all of which she lovingly shared with family and friends. Over the years, Ruth also worked along side her husband on the farm and they loved traveling together and wintering in Arizona. She also enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews. In February of 2007 Ruth became a resident of the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton, where she died Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at the age of 93. Ruth is survived by her sister, Doris Miller of 802 S. Mill St., Apt. #203, Fergus Falls, MN 56537; one sister-in-law, Murlaine Henkel of Balaton, MN; two nieces, Paulette (Ken) Brendefur of Fergus Falls, MN and Beth (Jerry) Terhark of Tyler, MN; three nephews, Kenneth (Audrey) Miller, Kevin (Mary Jo) Henkel and Kent (Lori) Henkel, all of Balaton, MN; great nieces, great nephews and friends. Her husband, Stanford, her parents, one brother, Johnny Henkel and one brother-in-law, LeRoy Miller preceded her in death.