Ruby Mortenson

Ruby L. Mortenson passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday, May 8th, 2019 at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN surrounded by her four children.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, July 22, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church. A private family burial will take place in Lakeside Cemetery, Herman.

Ruby was born in 1935 to Ray H. and Leila (Plaisance) Walton in Ward County, North Dakota. Ruby was the 6th of 7 children born to the Walton’s. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot, ND. Ruby’s parents passed away in her early life which forced the family to be split up. Ruby was fostered, and later adopted, by Charles O. and Linda (Ors) Johnson in 1949.

In 1953, Ruby graduated from Minot High School. She went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota-Morris in 1967 with a Bachelor’s of Art degree in English and Music.

Ruby and her future husband, Vern E. Mortenson, met when their best friends set them up for a blind date. It was a perfect match and they were united in marriage on March 30, 1957. In 1960, they moved to Herman, MN, where they raised 4 children while both pursuing their careers in education and volunteering within their church and community. Following Vern’s passing in 2011, Ruby continued to live in Herman until she moved to Champlin, MN, to be closer to family.

Ruby was a lifetime learner and always had her nose in a book or a puzzle. Ruby was known for her baking skills, and her kitchen often smelled of fresh baked bread which she eagerly shared with those that stopped. Ruby was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church and was the President of the LCW, Sunday School Superintendent, and Choir Director.

Up until the day of her passing, Ruby stayed busy with card games, Bingo, and exercise classes, as well as the aforementioned books and puzzles. She loved to keep in touch with her children and grandchildren, all of whom she was very proud of.

Ruby’s is preceded in death by Vern, her husband of 54 years. Ruby is survived by their 4 children; Melanie (Mark) Seamon, David (Susan) Mortenson, Valerie (Steven) Ahmann, and Karen (Nathan) Derby, and by 7 grandchildren; Sean (Karen) Seamon, Kelsey Seamon Marin, Kaley Ahmann, Jake Ahmann, Elisabeth (Mike) Slotten, Maddie Derby, and Victoria Derby, as well as 5 great-grandchildren; Julietta, Daniel, Fiona, Claire, and Averie. She has one surviving sibling, Beryl Johnson.

Memorial Donations can be directed to Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman.