Ruth Vanderminden

1938 - 2022

Ruth Nancy Graessle VanderMinden passed away in Boulder, Colorado on September 22, 2022 from Parkinson's. She was born to Allen Albert Graessle and Aranka Dorcjak Graessle in Elizabeth, NJ on October 2, 1938. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Russel Sage College in Troy, NY and later a Master's Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. In her early teaching years in New York and New Jersey, she taught home economics. Later she focused her 30-plus years in education at the primary school level. She retired from Colorado's Jeffo Public Schools. Her teaching career took her to several other locations as well in Illinois and North Carolina. Ruth taught internationally over three different decades. In the 60's and again in the 70's, she taught on Kwajalein Island in the South Pacific. In the 90's, she taught in Australia. Compassionate, generous and a great role model describe her. Ruth's competitive spirit helped her survive breast cancer in the 1990's. Although always a teacher, she turned her focus to games, both parlor and board ones. She especially enjoyed and was quite competitive with board games. When visitors came to her home, they were expected to play games. In addition to teaching and game playing, Ruth loved to travel along with meeting native people in their local communities instead of tourist areas. She enjoyed visiting Thailand and Vietnam. Ruth had three dates with John Laitinen before she took this trip to the Far East. After her return and a few more dates, they married on December 1, 2001 in Boulder, CO. One trip to Costa Rica, in particular, remained a favorite where she met a local teacher which involved riding horseback to his village. Apparently they had quite a memorable conversation even though their languages were different - hers English only, his - Spanish only. Being involved in civic and church activities also became part of Ruth's life. She was an active member in the Longmont Community Justice Partnership/Restorative Justice as well as in Grace Lutheran Church in Boulder. Ruth also volunteered for about ten years at Longmont United Hospital and at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center. Ruth is survived by her husband of 21 years, John A. Laitinen (Berthoud, CO), daughter Nancy Pontius (Fred) of Aubrey, TX, step-daughters, Jill Grant (Joe) Longmont, CO, Laura Laitinen (Villa Park, IL) and Coqui Stetson (Mike), Longmont, CO. A sister, Carolyn Sheehy (Harry) of Chicago, IL survives Ruth along with her three grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Allen Graessle. A memorial service is scheduled for 12 noon on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Grace Lutheran Church (ELCA), 1001 13th St., Boulder, CO 80302. Pastor Matthew Weber will officiate. The family suggests memorial contributions can be made in Ruth's name to any of her favorite charities: Heifer Project (http://www.heifer.org) Smile Train (http://www.smiletrain.org) or the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's (http://davisphinneyfoundation.org).