Ruth I. Christensen was born on August 11, 1922 in Coon Rapids, Iowa to the late Carl and Helen (Vannorman) Lucht. She received her education in Iowa and Minnesota. On September 22, 1943, Ruth was united in marriage to Oscar Christensen in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. This marriage would be blessed with eight daughters. Later, this marriage was dissolved. During World War II, Ruth worked at Brown and Bigelow Defense Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota and received a production award. She later worked at Raymond Lavatories in St. Paul before moving to Windom. After moving to Windom, Ruth worked at "The Chocolate Shop" and this is where she met her future husband and father of her eight daughters. Ruth was a loving mother and homemaker and enjoyed baking and cooking for her family. She loved nature and being outside landscaping and flower gardening with her daughters. Ruth also enjoyed trips to Florida and walking on the beach collecting seashells. Ruth also loved weekend visits to Lost Island Resort in Iowa spending time with her family and her cousin Clara & Dale and taking pontoon boat rides and enjoying bon fires and live music. She enjoyed creating beautiful silk floral arrangements and did all the flowers for 10 of her grandchildren's weddings. She also received an award from the American Legion Auxiliary for a silk flower arrangement center piece. Ruth was a longtime member of the American Lutheran Church in Windom. Ruth is survived by her eight daughters, Judy Schauer of Storden; Jane Dane of Windom; Janice (Lynn) Soleta of Windom; Joan Espelien of New London; Jolene (Fred) Fidler of New Smyrna Beach, FL; Joyce Hanish of Jeffers; Joette Buss of Windom; 27 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren; one brother, Lloyd Lucht of Inver Grove Heights; and several niece and nephews. Ruth is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Oscar Christensen; daughter, Jeris Van Den Berg; three brothers, Harvey, Paul and Raymond Lucht; sister, Grace Christensen; grandson, Terry Hanish; sons-in-law, Larry Schauer, Steve Dane, Stan VanDenBerg and Wayne Hanish.