Ruby Agnes Erickson

Ruby Erickson of Rush City passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024, surrounded by family and in the thoughts and prayers of friends and family, at the age of 92.

Ruby Agnes Hertenstein was born on August 16, 1932 to Joseph and Mary (Smiley) Hertenstein on a farm in Rush City, Minnesota. She was the fourth daughter of six children.

Ruby attended Malcom School until 5th grade when the family moved closer to Rush City. She graduated from Rush City High School in 1950 and then attended two years of nursing training at Gustavus College. She joined the United States Navy in 1952 and met her husband Bob during basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base. They began their military life at the U.S. Naval Base in Bremerton, Washington and were both in the medical corps at the naval hospital. Ruby and Bob were married on November 18, 1953, and son Tom was born in September 1954. Following their discharge, they moved to Northeast Minneapolis where son Jeff was born in 1957 followed by daughters Wendy in 1965 and Virginia (Ginger) in 1966. The family moved to New Hope in 1969. Following Bob's retirement, they moved to New Jersey to work at Matheny School for Handicapped Children for several years. In 1983, they purchased a home on East Rush Lake in Shorewood Park, and they became active in many community groups. In 2020, they moved to Rushseba Station.

Ruby was a woman of many talents. She enjoyed quilting, crafting, sewing and creating. She was a volunteer with the Fairview Hospice for over 20 years. She cared deeply about others and was the unofficial New Resident Ambassador at Rushseba Station. If there was a new resident or someone who needed a friend, Ruby often volunteered to help.

Ruby and Bob were awarded the Rush City Community Service Award in 2008 for all of their volunteerism and sacrificial giving to the community.

Ruby is survived by her sons Tom (Carla) Erickson of Westfield, Indiana, Jeff (Jill) Erickson of Rush City; daughter Wendy Scott of Blaine; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; siblings Betty Weeks of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Joe Hertenstein of Pine City, and Bob Hertenstein of Blaine.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Mary Hertenstein; husband Bob Erickson; daughter Ginger Erickson; son-in-law Ron Scott; sisters Marcia (Edgar) Johnson, Gloria (Virgil) Beecher; sisters-in-law Georgia Hertenstein, Marilyn Hertenstein; and brothers-in-law Bill Hegge and Marion Weeks.

Funeral services for Ruby: 11 AM; Thursday, September 12, 2024 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City. A gathering of family and friends is planned from 4-8 PM on Wednesday (9/11) at the Olson Funeral Chapel of Rush City and also one hour prior to the service at the church.

Click HERE to view Ruby's funeral service.

The interment will take place in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 10:45 AM in Assembly Area #4.

Memorials may be directed to the Rush City Food Shelf, P.O. Box 178, Rush City, MN 55069.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com