Belgrade - Ruth F. Mickelson, 101, died Wednesday, January 24, 2001 at Bethesda Heritage Nursing Home in Willmar.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 27, at Crow River Lutheran Church, rural Belgrade, with Rev. Michael DeKraai and Rev. Ron Struxness officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Johnson Funeral Home of Belgrade in charge of the arrangements.
Ruth Fredrikka Mickelson was born on September 29, 1899 in Belgrade, the daughter of Fredrick and Josephine (Anderson) Mickelson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at Crow River Lutheran Church by Rev. T.O. Tolo. She grew up in Belgrade where she attended elementary and high school, graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1917. She continued her education at Miss Woods Kindergarten School in Minneapolis from 1917 until graduating in 1921.
Ruth taught in Belgrade and Cannon Falls for five years before moving to Thief River Falls where she taught kindergarten for 38 years, from 1927 until her retirement in 1965.
While residing in Thief River Falls, Ruth was an associate member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she served as superintendent of the primary department, taught Sunday school and was a member of Dorcas, LDR and Ladies Aid of Trinity.
Following her retirement, Ruth moved to Belgrade where she taught Sunday School, attended Ladies Aid and Crow River Lutheran Church and was a charter member of the Belgrade Garden Club. In 1998, Ruth moved from her home in Belgrade to Glen Oaks Retirement Center in New London. She moved to Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar in 1999.
She is survived by a brother, Carl Norman (Margaret) Mickelson of Grand Rapid, six nieces and six nephews.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Lawrence, Werner and Harold Mickelson; and four sisters, Hilma Tolo and Edith Struxness and infants Constance and Fredrikka.
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