Ruth Louise Vaagenes

Ruth Louise Vaagenes, age 93, passed away on March 4, 2025, following a brief illness. 

Ruth was born to Reuben and Freda Oredson in Minneapolis on March 22, 1931. Her brother William "Bill" was born three years later. At the young age of 7, Ruth lost her father, Reuben, leaving Freda to raise Ruth and Bill. With Freda working to support the family during the Great Depression and World War II, Ruth grew up quickly as she assumed greater responsibilities at home, including looking after her younger brother, Bill. 

Ruth and Bill grew up in south Minneapolis among a loving extended family of Swedish and Norwegian aunts, uncles and cousins who helped raise them. Summers were spent with relatives on family farms and in Swift Falls, Minnesota. She enjoyed fishing and looking under cow pies to find grub worms for her fishhooks. In winter she loved ice skating and won second place in a community speed skating competition. During the Christmas season she went door to door selling Christmas cards to neighbors who were always supportive of her little enterprise. 

Throughout childhood, Ruth and her family were active members of Olivet Lutheran Free Church on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. It was there that she met her future husband, Carl Vaagenes. Ruth was in the church choir when Carl, a student at nearby Augsburg College, filled in for the choir director. Ruth quickly caught Carl's eye. 

Ruth and Carl married in 1950 and, soon after, he was drafted into the Army. While Carl was posted at Camp Chafee, Arkansas, Ruth gave birth to their first child, Daniel. They returned to the Twin Cities after Carl completed his military service. Ruth took classes at the Lutheran Bible Institute (LBI) while Carl was in seminary to become a pastor. 

They left the U.S. in 1955 for a year of French language study in Paris before going to Madagascar where they served as missionaries until 1972. It was during language study in Paris that they met their lifelong close friends Jake and Evie Jacobsen. While in Madagascar, their children Annette, Miriam and Carl Peter were born. A son, Jonathan, was also born in Madagascar but died shortly after birth. 

After the years in Madagascar, Ruth and Carl moved to Northwood, ND followed by 13 years on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Since 1991 they have lived in the Twin Cities, close to many family and friends. 

Ruth lived with grace and humility as she loved and served others, often behind the scenes. She was a caregiver at heart, serving in that role in so many ways throughout her life, in villages on the mission field and wherever they lived. As a mother and wife, she was all about family and went out of her way to provide a loving home as she nurtured us and taught us how to live. She showed us her love in so many ways and one of her favorite ways was through her home cooked meals, cinnamon rolls, and Julekake that were enjoyed by so many family and friends. She was a beautiful person inside and out with eyes and a smile that lit up every room. In recent years, she especially enjoyed visits from grandchildren and great-grandchildren, while living with her daughter, Annette, and husband, Tom. 

Ruth is preceded in death by husband, Carl; son, Jonathan; parents, Reuben and Freda Oredson; and her brother, Bill Oredson. 

She is survived by her children, Daniel (Ruth Ann), Annette (Tom) Baker, Miriam (Peter) Hansen, Carl (Kirsten); 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Vaagenes and Patricia Oredson; along with nephews, nieces and cousins. 

Memorials: Global Health Ministries

Visitation 10:00 - 11:00 am Friday, March 14 at North Heights Lutheran Church (Roseville Campus), 2701 Rice St., Roseville followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am. 

Private interment Oak Hill Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.