Ruth Lydell Christianson

Ruth L. Christianson of Milaca, Minnesota, passed away on Veterans Day, November 11, 2021, at Milaca Elim Meadows at the age of 99.  Her desire was to be Home with her Lord and Savior.

The funeral service will be held Friday, November 19 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, Milaca, with Pastor Timothy Bauer officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be at Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 23.  The family asks that all attending the visitation and funeral, please wear a mask.

Ruth Lydell Helmers, born on October 5, 1922, in Waco, Nebraska, was the daughter of Louis Helmers and Sarah Heineke Helmers.  She graduated from high school in Thayer, Nebraska, and attended the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Wesleyan University.  She graduated as a registered nurse from The Bryan Memorial School of Nursing, Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1944.

Ruth served as an Army nurse in the Army Nurse Corps during WW II at Ft. Carson, Colorado, and Ft. Francis E. Warren in Wyoming, as Second Lieutenant.  It was there that she met Gerald Christianson, and they were married on April 21, 1946, shortly after her discharge.

Ruth continued her nursing career at Moorhead State Teachers College and in Hillsboro, North Dakota, Ada, Minnesota, and St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.  She started a home care pilot program in Polk County, Wisconsin.  Her last 18 years of nursing were with River Valley Medical Center, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.  She retired in 1984.

A caregiver at heart, Ruth continued sharing this gift throughout retirement as she visited residents in Elim Meadows as part of Stephens Ministries.  Later, as an Elim resident herself, she continued to visit, read Scripture and pray with other residents.

Time with family and church involvement were Ruth’s priorities.  Wherever Ruth lived she was active in church women’s groups and Sunday School.  In Milaca she led an adult Bible class at Trinity Lutheran Church, served as Sunday School Treasurer and helped with VBS. 

Other interests included reading, quilting and sightseeing.  She and Gerald traveled in Europe and most of the United States, especially enjoying Alaska.  Ruth was a member of the Milaca Current Events Club.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gerald, and sister Marge Walstrom.

She is survived by sons Gary (Ruth Ann) of Princeton, and Jon (Joyce) of Milaca; grandchildren Ryan (Amy) Christianson of Stafford, Virginia; Bria (Scott) Homstad, Chanhassen, Minnesota; Joshua (Aja Heinlein) Christianson, Chicago, Illinois; and Deanna Christianson, Chicago, Illinois; great-grandsons Robbie, Matthew, Ryan, and Charlie Christianson of Stafford, Virginia.