Betty J Ruud

A Celebration of Life for Betty J. Ruud, age 91, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.  Rev. John Holt and Rev. Sean Forde will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday.  Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 3, 2017 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Betty died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at her home.

Betty J. Ruud was born on September 26, 1925 in Albert Lea, MN to Lars O. and Alpha (Iverson) Grasdalen. She grew up in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea Central High School in 1943.  She married John F. (Jack) Ruud on September 2, 1945 at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in rural Albert Lea.  Betty was a long standing and active member of First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.  She was involved in Altar Guild, Sunday School teaching, circle, bible studies, quilting, delivering communion to the home bound, and Holidays Ahead to list a few.  She served wherever she was needed.  She was one of the founding group members that started Meals On Wheels in Albert Lea.  She volunteered for Red Cross Blood Drives and served on the board of Bayview Funeral Home.  Traveling and playing bridge were some of her favorite pastimes.  Her faith, family, and friends were the most important things in her life.

Betty is survived by her children: daughter Sandy of Lakeville, MN, daughter Kathy (Eric) Oslund of Independence, MO, son John (Beth) of Albert Lea, and son Paul (Suzanne) of Lakeville, MN; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister Lorraine Hanson of Albert Lea, sister Marilyn Lewison of Rochester, MN, and brother Lowell (Bev) Grasdalen of Tucson, AZ; nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Jack.

Betty was a wonderful friend, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and was always there for everyone.  Betty’s family would like to give special thanks to all the personnel at Mayo Clinic Health Systems Albert Lea Hospice.

Memorials preferred to Mayo Clinic Health Systems Albert Lea Hospice, Happiness Is A Blanket of First Lutheran Church, and Youth For Christ – The Rock.