Ruth B. Grote

Aberdeen - The funeral service for Ruth B. Grote, 81, Aberdeen, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 14, 2007, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with Pastor Jeff Whillock officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park. Ruth died on June 11, 2007, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital. Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. Wednesday with family present from 5-7 p.m. at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St., and one hour prior to the service at the church. Ruth Beatrice Marian Birkeland was born Aug. 4, 1925, at Northwood, N.D., to Nils and Francis (Dahly) Birkeland. Ruth graduated from high school in Climax, Minn., and then attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, S.D. Ruth taught rural school and worked at Woolworth's and Newberry's before marrying Clarence Benjamin Grote on June 30, 1946, at Crookston, Minn. They made their home farming near Aberdeen. Ruth worked full-time as a bookkeeper at Hub City Livestock in Aberdeen for 38 years, retiring in 2000. She enjoyed traveling with her family. Ruth was a longtime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. Ruth was a member of the Women of the Moose, where she was Senior Regent for a time. Ruth was a member of the Bride-0-wee extension club. Ruth was active in the community volunteering at elections, the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce (RSVP), Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Aberdeen Senior Citizens Center. Ruth's love for her family and friends was immense. Ruth inspired others to learn and attend higher education. Ruth was compassionate and caring, always making time for others and never judging. She enjoyed piano, old-time fiddler music and playing cards. Grateful for having shared her life are her son Steven Grote, Portland, Ore.; her daughters, Deborah (Ronald) Nelson, Aberdeen, Karen Grote, Savage, Minn., Rita (Greg) Beck, Aberdeen, and Cheryl Goehring, Savage, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. She was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one sister, Francis Quiggle; two grandchildren, Randy Nelson and Shane Luce; and one great-grandson, C J Lee. (spitzerfuneralhome.com)