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Ruth Kruschke Obituary – 7/9/2019


Ruth Augusta Emilia (Dammann) Schmidt Kruschke, age 92, of Glencoe, formerly of Lester Prairie, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Good Samaritan Society in Arlington.

She was born Jan. 14, 1927, in Hamburg, the daughter of Herbert and Clara (Machemehl) Dammann. Ruth was baptized as an infant Jan. 30, 1927, and later was confirmed in her faith as a youth April 6, 1941, both by Pastor H. J. Boumann at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg. Her confirmation verse was Matthew 7:13-14.

Ruth received her education in Glencoe, graduating with the Glencoe High School class of 1945.

She was united in marriage to Herman George Schmidt April 13, 1947, by Pastor Louis Wohlfeil at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg. Ruth and Herman made their home in Glencoe. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Diane and Terry.

Ruth and Herman shared over 28 years of marriage until Herman passed away Jan. 15, 1976.

Ruth was united in marriage to Ruben Kruschke Feb. 3, 1978, by Pastor Layton Lemke at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe. Ruth and Ruben made their home on the Kruschke family farm until 2000, when they moved to Glencoe. They shared almost 38 years of marriage until Ruben passed away Feb. 2, 2016.

In 2017, Ruth made her home at Grand Meadows Senior Living in Glencoe.

In addition to being a loving wife, mother and homemaker, Ruth worked at Telex in Glencoe, retiring in 1978. She also had various part-time jobs through the years.

Ruth was a faithful member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe, and a former member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie.

She enjoyed decorating, flowers, fishing, and traveling with Ruben. Ruth was never happier than when she was surrounded by her family, and she always put them first.

Ruth is survived by her children: Diane Scharmer and her husband, Jerry, of Buffalo Lake, and Terry Schmidt and his wife, Jane, of Pine River; grandchildren, Kari Runke and her special friend, Rob Mundt, Stephanie Scharmer and her special friend, James Nelson, Phillip Scharmer and his wife, Linette, Anjela Ayllon and her husband, Michael, and Riana Barry and her husband, Sean; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by Ruben’s children, Diane Rifkin and her husband, Tom, of Bloomington, and Julie Schweitzer and her husband, Mark, of Tucson, AZ; Ruben’s grandchildren, Kali Schweitzer, and Adam Schweitzer; sisters, Betty Oelfke of Arlington, and Muriel Zeiroth and her husband, Loren, of Waconia; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nephews, nieces, other relatives, and many friends.

In addition to her husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Clara Dammann; brothers Harold Dammann and his wife, Agnes, and Loren Dammann; sister Verona Bussmann and her husband, Art; and brother-in-law Harold Oelfke.

Ruth’s funeral service took place Monday, July 15 at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe, with interment at the Glencoe City Cemetery. Pastor Jon Niebuhr officiated at the service, and the organist was Jan Heins. Congregational hymns were “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace,” and “On Eagle’s Wings.”

Honorary casket bearers were Jerry Scharmer, Michael Ayllon, and Sean Barry.

Casket bearers were Phillip Scharmer, Nicholas Scharmer, Dustin Runke, James Nelson, Robert Mundt, and Kaden Thomas.

Arrangements were with the Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe. Online obituaries and guest book are available at www.mcbridechapel.com.

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