Sarah M. Ryerson

FOREST CITY - Sarah M. Ryerson, 99, of Mankato, Minn., formerly of Forest City, passed to her heavenly home on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, at Laurel's Peak Rehabilitation Center in Mankato, Minn.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with the Rev. Greg Anderson officiating. Burial will be at Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City is in charge of arrangements.
Sarah Marie Ryerson was born March 24, 1912, in Crystal Lake, Hancock County, to Severin and Malinda (Hope) Haugland. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith. At the age of six, she started country school. She only spoke Norwegian and could not speak or understand English when she started to school. In third grade, she went to Crystal Lake school, graduating from Crystal Lake High School in 1930. In high school Sarah was active in the Methodist Church in Crystal Lake. Sarah attended college at Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, and was certified to teach country school grades 1-8. Sarah taught school for three years.
On Oct. 12, 1935, Sarah married Ralph Ryerson in Gallatin, Mo. They kept their marriage a secret until Sarah finished out the school year. Born to Sarah and Ralph were two daughters, Sharon (Dillon) and Helen (Coughlin). Linda Sutter lived with Sarah and Ralph for two years. Eggo "Swede" Bulton lived with Sarah and Ralph for over five years. Swede was like a son to Sarah and Ralph.
Sarah and Ralph farmed near Thompson for 34 years. They then moved into Forest City. Sarah kept very busy giving piano lessons until 1995. Sarah was active in 4-H as a leader and committee woman. Sarah taught Sunday school at Linden Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church for many years. She was active in the women's groups at Linden, Bethany and Immanuel Churches. Sarah was the pianist and organist at Linden Lutheran Church. She also served as the Sunday school superintendent at Linden Church. Sarah enjoyed music and Bible study. Her hobbies included playing the piano, reading, china painting, and gardening. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Sarah was an active member of Music Teachers of North Iowa.
In 1995, Sarah moved to Mankato, Minn. She lived with her daughter Helen's family for three years. Then Sarah lived at Old Main Village for twelve years. In October 2010, she moved to Laurels Peak. In Mankato Sarah was an active member of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for many years. She also enjoyed the activities offered at Old Main Village and Laurel's Peak.
She is survived by her daughter, Helen (JB) Coughlin of North Mankato, Minn.; son-in-law, Ron (Marjorie) Dillon of Lenexa, Kan.; daughter-in-law, Wanda Bulton of Early, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Ralph (Eva) Dillon of Mundelein, Ill., Rick (Beth) Dillon of Lenexa, Kan., Nancy (Dave) Woodin of Laurens, Patti (Jeff) Griffiths of Okoboji, Danny (Amy) Mathias of Aurelia, Jan deRegnoir of Urbandale, Tristen (Jennifer) Larson of Bloomington, Minn., Malinda Twigg of Apple Valley, Minn., and Alyssa Coughlin of Mendoza, Argentina; eleven great-grandchildren, Madison (Terry) Powers, Brian Kooker, Jay Dillon, Jenna Dillon, Jeffrey Dillon, Sharon Griffiths, Jenifer Griffiths, Ashley Gag, Caroline Twigg, JJ Twigg, Elise Larson, and Harper Larson; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Haugland of Britt; and many nieces and nephews.
Sarah was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph (1987); daughters, Sharon Dillon (1988) and Linda Sutter (2001); foster son, Swede Bulton (2009); brothers, Jimmy, Eric (Edna), Carl, Grant (Lois), Stanley (June), Bjarne , Lloyd (Lydia) and Bennett Haugland; and foster grandson, Dave deRegnoir.
Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 641-585-2685, www.petersenlundfh.com.