Ruby Lynk

The celebration of life funeral service for lifetime Wadena resident Ruby Lynk, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the, former First Congregational UCC in Wadena. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Schuller Family Funeral Homes' Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena and will continue on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Interment will be in the Wadena Cemetery. Surrounded by the love of her family, Ruby passed away September 7, 2025, at The Meadows of Wadena with compassionate care by the staff and Vivie Hospice in Wadena, MN. She had 100+ years of life experience. Ruby was born to Fred and Rosa (Ladwig) Breid on November 25, 1924, at home in Wadena Township, MN. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated in 1942 from Wadena High School. She did bookkeeping for the Maurice Ebner Insurance Agency and worked at a local grocery store gathering the various purchases when handed the list by homemakers and children (before shopping carts existed in Wadena). On April 2, 1943, Ruby married her high school classmate, Dale E. Lynk, at the Evangelical and Reform Church in Wadena. After living in the Twin Cities for a short time they returned to their hometown where they eventually bought into the hardware store on main street with Dick Fossen, becoming Dick 'n' Dale's Coast-to-Coast. When Dick retired, their son Terry, and wife Mary, partnered in the business and it eventually became Lynk's True Value. Over time, Dale, Ruby, and each of their children worked at "the store" where she attentively handled the books when Lil was gone and always looked forward to waiting on customers. Quietly, Ruby focused on being a mother and community volunteer. If her children couldn't find her at her sewing machine, in the kitchen, laundry room or vegetable garden they knew she was helping at church. She avidly journaled daily life through the years, shared newspaper clippings with community members, crocheted afghans for family members, and at the age of 96 crocheted 48 hats and scarves for local school children. Memories include her remaking adult clothes to fit her children, reading to them at bedtime, bowling, watercolor and oil painting, crafting, making chokecherry wine, taking photos, along with organizing family and class reunions. For Wadena County she observed parent and child visitations. At church she served in numerous roles, was a familiar face at the rummage sales and bazaar checkout lines, and was usually the last one turning off lights and locking doors. She volunteered with hospice for 20+ years, the Wadena Historical Society, Bloodmobile, was a Cub Scout den mother and Girl Scout leader, among other service projects. Life was best when spending time with Dale and their family. Being named 1992 MN Mother of the Year made her family exceedingly proud. Preceding Ruby in death were her husband, Dale (1992); parents, Fred and Rosa; grandson, Jon Lynk; great-granddaughter, Dreamer Saltzman; infant great-grandson, Ty Kristopher Lynk; siblings, Tillie (Cliff) Kyar, Arnie (Margorie and Donnis) Breid, Art (Beulah) Breid and Carl (Audrey) Breid; parents-in-law, Irvan and Hazel Lynk; sister-in-law, Ila Nell "Sis" (Murt) Ketchum; and brothers-in-law, Ken Fiesler, Bill Davis and Joe Murray. Deeply loved, Ruby will be remembered by her children: Russ (Mary) Lynk of Detroit Lakes, Terry (Mary) Lynk, Allan (Karen Johnson) Lynk, Steve (Joanne) Lynk all of Wadena, Jan (Tom) Goeden of Arvada, CO, Kelly (Melissa) Lynk of Buffalo, Bev Lynk of Wadena, and Kevin (Kerry) Lynk of Arvada, CO; 26 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marian Davis of Staples and Dixie (friend, Bill Kern) Murray of Wadena; along with numerous caring nieces and nephews. Honorary casket bearers will be all of her family. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ruby's name may be directed to Wadena Cemetery, Wadena Historical Society, Vivie Hospice, Meals on Wheels, or a charity of your choice. (Photo taken in 2024, six weeks before her 100th birthday.)