Karlstad - Ruth C. Riveness, 88, died Monday, October 6, 1997 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, October 9 at Karlstad Gospel Tabernacle with Pastors Gordon Fox, David Riveness, John T. Ost, Virgil Rasmussen and Henry Jauhiainen officiating. Mrs. Wendell Jorgenson was the pianist. Allison Riveness presented a violin solo. Vocal music was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Jorgenson, Jennifer Jorgenson, and Pastor John and Clara Ost. Kyle Rokke gave a reading. Casketbearers were Ruth's grandsons &endash; Jon Riveness, Dirk Riveness, Erik Riveness, Kris Rokke, Kyle Rokke, Todd Stanfield, Darrin Broas and Kevin Broas. Interment was at Karlstad Cemetery. Arrangements were with the Collins Funeral Homes of Karlstad, Greenbush and Middle River.
Ruth Christine Olson was born August 17, 1909 at Minneapolis, the daughter of Conrad and Rikka (Fors) Olson. She attended school and grew to womanhood there and later was employed in Minneapolis as a telephone operator.
On June 8, 1934 Ruth was united in marriage to Pastor John A. Riveness in Minneapolis. The couple resided in Duluth for two years and Minong, WI for three years before moving to Karlstad in 1943 where they have since resided.
Using her soprano voice, Ruth ministered with her husband, including on the Words of Life radio broadcast from KTRF in Theif River Falls for over 50 years. She taught Sunday school at the Karlstad Gospel Tabernacle where she was a long-time member.
She is survived by her husband, John: three sons, David (Beth) of Moose Lake, Paul (Myrle) and Phillip, both of Minneapolis; four daughters, Clara (John) Ost of McAllen, TX, Jennie (David) Stanfield of Rome City, IN, Sharon (Jerry) Spielberg of Minneapolis and JoAnne (Howard) Rokke of Thief River Falls; 20 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Alice Vandermark of Minneapolis; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters; one brother; and one grandson.