Ruby Joyce Madson

Ruby Joyce (Johnson) Madson, 94, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2024, at Goldpine Home in Bemidji MN.
Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, August 2, 2024 at Evangelical Free Church in Bemidji with Pastor Jerry Johnson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji.
Ruby was born on November 30, 1929, to Oscar and Julia (Fugleberg) Johnson, the eldest of seven children and was raised on a farm in Fox Minnesota. She was a joyous, happy child that loved helping others. She milked cows, tended animals and helped her mom take care of her siblings.
While in school, she was nicknamed "Rhubarb". She met the love of her life, Clayton Madson, at the age of 15 at a town hall dance near Roseau MN. They were married on December 10, 1947, at Rose Lutheran Church in Roseau MN. They were married for 52 years until his death on May 11, 2000. They lived in the Roseau area until the summer of 1966, when they moved to Bemidji MN, so that their five children would have access to post-secondary schools.
In addition to caring for her five children, Ruby cleaned houses, worked at Minnesota Woods Products. In 1979, she started working at North Country Regional Hospital as a Dietary Aide. She was awarded Employee of the Month in November 1981. She was recognized as a valuable team member, a self-starter that took pride in her work. She was described as having a unique ability to relate to others, never saying negative comments or complaining.
Ruby's greatest joy was taking care of her family and friends. She had a generous spirit that loved to cook. Her specialties were homemade doughnuts, rhubarb pie and lefsa.
She was a member of E-Free Church in Bemidji MN. She had a deep faith in God that helped her continue to find joy in life after the loss of her sons Steve in 1979, Ron in 2012 and Jerry in 2019.
She is survived by her daughter Jodi (Lyle) Lortie, Bemidji, son Chris Madson of St, Paul MN, Daughter-in-law Pamela Madson. Grand children Dak (Robyn) Madson, Steve (Tara Dallavalle) Madson, Britt (Mitchell) Fay, Luke (Stephanie) Lortie, Sara (Joshua) Peterson, Christian Madson, Cienna (Taylor Ness) Madson, Honorary grandchild Shane Richau. Great Grandchildren Anders and Annika Madson, Addison Richau, Brooklyn Hannestad, Jacob, Vincent, Maria and Louise Lortie, Sona Fay and step grandson Zander Hanson, Sisters: Verna Grafstrom, Salol MN, Ordell O'Neill, Edina, Julie Ann Holland, Nevis, brother Darvin Johnson, Roseau and sister-in-law Fern Johnson, Salol, MN.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Husband Clayton, sons Jerrald, Ronald and Steven Madson, brothers, Dennis and Harvey Johnson, brothers-in-law Lester Grafstrom, Brian O'Neill, Roger Holland and sister-in-law Jean Johnson.
The Family would like to thank Goldpine Home for the wonderful care Ruby received in the 2½ years she was a resident. And Sanford Hospice for making her journey to heaven a peaceful one.