Ruth M. Richardson — Rochester

The funeral service for Ruth M. Richardson, 99, of Rochester, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ in Pleasant Grove, with Rev. Marcus Kendall officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery in Pleasant Grove.

Ruth Richardson died Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, from natural causes at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester, where she had been a resident since May of 2011.

Ruth Margaret Richardson was born Sept. 10, 1913, in Leonard,  to Theodore and Helen (Parks) Richardson. She grew up on the family farm and attended rural schools until the 9th grade. Ruth then moved to Chatfield, to live with two aunts and their families, and continue her schooling, graduating from Rochester High School in 1933. She moved to Rochester where she was employed as a nanny for a few years, before attending a business college in Minneapolis. After completing her courses, she returned to Rochester and was employed at the Kahler Hotel in their bookkeeping department for over 40 years until her retirement in the early 1970s. Ruth moved to Arbor Terrace in Rochester in 2001.

She was a former member of the First Christian Church in Rochester and of the Stewartville American Legion Auxilary – Gold Star Sisters. She volunteered at Mayo Clinic and with the Salvation Army in Rochester. Ruth enjoyed traveling, reading, knitting, square dancing at the Rochester Senior Center and time spent with family.

Ruth is survived by her sister-in-law, Marion Richardson of Stewartville; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Lucille Johnson and three brothers, John, Rollin and Raymond Richardson.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday afternoon.

Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. www.griffin-gray.com