Born: 26 Aug 1921, Holmes City twp, Douglas Co, MN
Married: 14 Jun 1941, Farwell, MN
Died: 31 Mar 1997, Alexandria, Douglas Co, MN
Buried: Trysil-Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City twp, MN
Spouse: Stanley Femrite
Newspaper Obituary: Echo Press, Alexandria, MN, April 9, 1997
Ruth Femrite, 75
Ruth Marie (Mrs Stanley) Femrite, 75, a resident of Alexandria,
Minnesota, died on Monday, March 31, 1997 at the Knute Nelson Memorial
Home in Alexandria.
Ruth Marie was born on August 26, 1921, on the family farm in Holmes
City Township, Douglas County, Minnesota, the daughter of Theodore Edwin
and Anna Christina (Mickelson) Swenson. She attended the Douglas County
District 29 school in Holmes City Township and later high school and
teachers training in Alexandria.
On June 14, 1941, Ruth Marie and Stanley Femrite were married in
Farwell (Farwell Lutheran Church). The couple lived on their farm in
Holmes City Township for 47 years until moving to Royal Manor Apartments
in Alexandria in 1988. Ruth became a resident of Knute Nelson Memorial
Home in January, 1995 where Stanley still resides. They celebrated 55
years of marriage in June of 1996.
Ruth Marie taught school in rural Douglas County before and for a time
after her marriage. After their children were raised, she worked for
rural Minnesota News and also was a bookkeeper for Land O’Lakes and
Bellanca Aircraft for several years. She was involved in the civic and
political affairs of her community and was a school board member of
Pocket Lake School District 446.
At the time of her death Ruth Marie was a member of the Ben Wade
Covenant Church in Lowry where she had been actively involved in women’s
ministries. She was also Sunday School Superintendent and teacher in
both Trysil Lutheran Church and St Paul’s Lutheran Church of Lowry for
many years.
Ruth Marie was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and
friend, serving with a cheerful heart in spite of her 22 year battle
with cancer. Her faith and trust in God was evident to many people
whose lives she touched.
Ruth is survived by her husband Stanley of Alexandria; son Rodney and
wife ArLou Femrite of Alexandria; two daughters: Gloria and husband
Kenneth Lundblad of Alexandria; Audrey and husband Daniel Waage of
Alexandria; 10 grandchildren: Michael and wife Ana Femrite, Jeff, Robbie
and Elizabeth Lindner; Jeffrey and wife Kristi Lundblad, Jamey Lundblad,
Karl, Erik, Levi and Joel Waage, four great grandchildren: Phanalai,
Bun, Michael and Martha Lindner; brother, Ted and wife Sandy Swenson of
Farwell; sister Alice Ann and husband Owen Mathre of Wilmington, DE;
brother-in-law, Murville Femrite of Hoffman; and several nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, infant daughter, Joyce
Marie, two brothers Raymond and Arleigh Swenson.
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 4, 1997, 2pm, at the
Evangelical Covenant Church with Reverend David Wallin and Reverend
Russell Osterberg officiating. Musical selections were by organist,
Laurie Musselman and the soloists were Joyce Blair and Kathy Fiskness.
Pallbearers were Michael Femrite, Jeff Lindner, Robbie Lindner,
Jeffrey Lundblad, Jamey Lundblad, Karl Waage, Erik Waage and Levi Waage.
Honorary pallbearers were Joel Waage, Kristi Lundblad, Ana Femrite,
Elizabeth, Phanalai, Bun, Michael and Martha Lindner.
Interment will be at the Trysil Bethesda Cemetery in Holmes City.
Services were directed by Petermeier’s Alexandria Funeral Home.