Funeral
Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday January 23, 2019 at Zion Ev.
Lutheran Church in Stetsonville. Rev. Richard Russow will officiate. Burial
will follow in the Abbotsford Cemetery. Visitation will be held that morning at
Zion Ev. Lutheran Church from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Pallbearers
will be Paul Thompson, Jim Thompson, Gordon Aase, Scott Knudson, Randy Tweet and Jon Meyer.
Ruby, known
as Arlys, was born March 6, 1924 on the family farm near Hartland, MN to Ole
and Hilda (Rugroden) Knudson. She attended schools in Freeborn County and
graduated from Freeborn High School in 1940. In 1943 she graduated from Mankato
Teachers College in Mankato, MN with a degree in education. Before her marriage,
Arlys taught school in Minnesota. She then resided in Washington D.C. and
worked for the Census Bureau and Pentagon. She married Reuel N. Thompson on
December 8, 1945 at the Hartland Lutheran Church in Hartland MN. Reuel preceded
her in death on April 25, 2018.
Reuel and
Arlys farmed in the Gilman area until 1960, when they moved to a farm in rural
Stetsonville. They relocated to Dorchester in 1973, where she currently resided.
Arlys was a
member of the Stetsonville American Legion Auxiliary. She was an active member
of the St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Gilman, followed by Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Stetsonville where
she belonged to the Ladies Aid and Mission Circle, taught Sunday School and was
involved in quilting.
She enjoyed
traveling, reading, sewing, crocheting and playing Scrabble.
Arlys is
survived by two daughters: Sharon (Bill) Stecklein of Derwood, MD, Nancy
Thompson of Manitowoc, WI and one son, John (Jean) Thompson of DeForest, WI,
One Granddaughter, Tracey (Kenny) Gulden and Two Great Granddaughters: Ellen and
Megan Gulden, all of Toano, VA, Sisters:
Helen Aase of Kenyon, MN, Ona Meyer of Hartland, MN, and Margaret (Roald) Tweet
of Rock Island, IL.
She is further
preceded in death by her Parents, Son: Brian Thompson in April of 2012, Brother:
Harold Knudson, along with several brothers and sisters in law.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in honor of Arlys, be
given to the family for future designation.
The family
would like to express their deep appreciation to friends and neighbors who
visited and helped Arlys, when needed, especially following the death of her
Husband in April of 2018. A special thank you is extended to Henry and Sharon
Blume for sharing meals and for always being there for Arlys and her family.
Your friendship, help and support have meant so much to all of us throughout
the years.
Hemer Funeral
Service of Medford and Rib Lake has been entrusted with arrangements. Online
condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com
