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Ruth Christine Francis (nee Jorgensen), 93, of Minneapolis, Minn., passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Molly, and father, Ingvard, both of Danish descent, and all five siblings: Dorothy, Harold, Verna, Grace and Arden.
She was the loving mother of her two sons, David (Michelle) of Virginia and Douglas of Vermont; grandchildren: Andy and Tania; great-grandchildren: Sarah, Caitlin, Tyler and Jacob; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Ruth grew up in Newell. She graduated from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake with a BA in physical education. After college, she married Jon Francis, a Navy pilot and father of her two children. Ruth worked as a homemaker most of her married life and volunteered for various organizations. Over the years, she cared for her family through transfers to military assignments in several states and overseas; she had fond memories of the years in Spain.
Ruth was divorced in Minnesota at age 55, and started working as a library assistant and then computer educator at Minnehaha Academy, South Campus. She taught computer skills to elementary school students until she retired at the age of 80 after 25 years. She exercised and swam laps at the Jewish Community Center for many years. She also enjoyed riding her bicycle around the streets and bike paths of Minneapolis. She liked decorating her house and doing yard work and lived independently at home until the year she died.
Ruth was devoted to Christ and was always seeking God’s truth. Connecting to friends and other believers was important to her. She was inspired by nature and recalled the wonder of looking at stars at night on the family farm as a child. She lived a long life worried about getting things right; her faith and personal strengths saw her through good times and bad. She was determined, spoke her mind, could see the humor in things, found joy in the everyday, and genuinely cared about others.
Memorial donations may be made in Ruth's name to Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis. Simple Traditions by Bradshaw Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
